GIFT  OF 


PL.    1 


U.    S  .     FLAG  S  .     1872 


U.S.     PENNANT 


Wern.br  Com 
IcfrRfsels  oftfie  WSSbetotrthe 

aHtLuistftc  bom  aftfwu"  toots . 
REVENUE  U-  S.    REVENUE 


NATIONAL    ENSIGN 


JULY        J1871. 


no  is  ted  at  tJte3£atn.of ships 
war  aiuL  in-  the  bows  of  boob  when 
the  President  of 'tht  UiS.  is  oti/ 


u.  s.  REVENUE  FLAG  . 


Worn  by  Revenue^  (biters  and,  OIL  all-  builduicf 
wider  Hie  control  of  the,  U.  S.  treasury  .Department. 


U.S.  REVENUE    JACK 


UNION    JACK 


'r^a^  the  iowsprltcf  U.S. 


Worn,  at  tiie  main  wJizn  tiie>  Secr? 
oftJt&Jfayy  is  011*  toaj'dsd  U.S.  resseL 
ofwcu;  cut(Lin>  the.  bows  af  his  toot*  Worn 
ressets  of  war. 


BUT  FORD'S  LI1H.  BOSTON. 


OUR   FLAG. 


ORIGIN  AND   PROGRESS 


WITH  AN  INTRODUCTORY  ACCOUNT 


SYMBOLS,  STANDARDS,  BANNERS  AND  FLAGS 
OF  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN  NATIONS, 


GEO.  HENRY  PREBLE,  U.  S. 


"  When  the  standard  of  the  Union  is  raised  and  waves  over  my  head  —  the  stand- 
ard which  Washington  planted  on  the  ramparts  of  the  Constitution,  God  forbid  that 
I  should  enquire  whom  the  people  have  commissioned  to  unfurl  it,  and  bear  it  up ;  I 
only  ask  in  what  manner,  as  an  humble  individual,  I  can  best  discharge  my  duty  in 
defending  it." —  DANIEL  WEBSTER. 

"  There  is  but  one  other  emblem  so  significant  as  a  flag,  viz :  the  cross." 


ALBANY: 
JOEL     M  U  N  S  E  L  L . 

1872. 


c 

•f-7 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1872, 

By  Geo.  H.  PREBLE, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


"Sot  t*  tto  Wvtofl,  tout  t0  ito  to*&" 


THIS 

BOOK   IS    DEDICATED 

TO  THB 

MEMORY  OF  THOSE  GALLANT  SPIRITS 

WHO,   BY 

LAND  OR  SEA  HAVE  FOUGHT  AND  CONQUERED, 

OR 

fallen  in  faeftnte 

OF  THB 

BANNER    IT   COMMEMORATES. 


"  This  is  a  maxim  which  I  have  received  by  hereditary  tradition,  not  only  from 
my  father,  but  also  from  my  grandfather  and  his  ancestors,  that  after  what  I  owe  to 
God,  nothing  should  be  more  dear  or  sacred  than  the  love  and  respect  I  owe  to  my 
country." —  DeTHOU. 

"  Land  of  my  birth  !  thy  glorious  stars 

Float  over  shore  and  sea, 
Made  sacred  by  a  thousand  scars 

They  were  not  born  to  flee  j 
Oh  may  that  flag  forever  wave 
Where  dwell  the  patriot  and  the  brave 

Till  all  the  earth  be  free  : 
Yet  still  the  shrine  be  here  as  now 
Where  freeman,  pilgrim  like,  shall  bow.'* 

"  There  is  the  national  flag  !  He  must  be  cold,  indeed,  who  can  look  upon  its 
folds  rippling  in  the  breeze  without  pride  of  country.  If  he  be  in  a  foreign  land  the 
flag  is  companionship,  and  country  itself  with  all  its  endearments.  Who  as  he  sees 
it  can  think  of  a  state  merely  ?  Whose  eye  once  fastened  upon  its  radiant  trophies 
can  fail  to  recognize  the  image  of  the  whole  nation  ?  It  has  been  called  *  a  floating 
piece  of  poetry  5'  and  yet  I  know  not  if  it  have  any  intrinsic  beauty  beyond  other 
ensigns.  Its  highest  beauty  is  in  what  it  symbolizes.  It  is  because  it  represents  all 
that  all  gaze  at  it  with  delight  and  reverence.  It  is  a  piece  of  bunting  lifted  in  the 
air  j  but  it  speaks  sublimely  and  every  part  has  a  voice.  Its  stripes  of  alternate  red 
and  white  proclaim  the  original  union  of  thirteen  states  to  maintain  the  declaration  of 
independence.  Its  stars,  white  on  a  field  of  blue,  proclaim  that  union  of  states  constitut- 
ing our  national  constellation  which  receives  a  new  star  with  every  new  state.  The 
two  together  signify  union,  past  and  present.  The  very  colors  have  a  language  which 
was  officially  recognized  by  our  fathers.  White  is  for  purity ;  red  for  valor ;  blue, 
for  justice  j  and  all  together,  bunting,  stripes,  stars  and  colors,  blazing  in  the  sky, 
make  the  flag  of  our  country,  to  be  cherished  by  all  our  hearts,  to  be  upheld  by  all 
our  hands." — CHARLES  SUMNER. 


PREFACE. 


Proudhon  the  French  socialist  had  a  peculiar  man- 
ner of  proceeding  in  the  composition  of  a  work  which 
is  thus  stated. 

"  When  an  idea  struck  him,  he  would  write  it  out 
at  length,  generally  in  the  shape  of  a  newspaper  arti- 
cle ;  then  he  would  put  it  in  an  envelope  and  whenever 
a  new  idea  occurred  to  him,  or  he  obtained  additional 
information,  he  would  write  it  on  a  piece  of  paper, 
and  add  it  to  the  envelope.  When  a  sufficient  quan- 
tity of  material  was  assembled  he  would  write  an  article 
for  some  review  or  magazine.  This  article  he  would 
place  in  a  larger  envelope,  and  add  thoughts  and  in- 
formation until,  at  last,  the  article  became  a  book ; 
and  the  day  after  the  publication  of  his  book,  he 
would  place  it  in  a  pasteboard  box,  and  add  thoughts 
and  additional  information  as  he  came  into  possession 
of  them." 

Very  much  in  the  same  way  have  these  memoirs 
grown  to  the  size  of  this  volume.  More  than  twenty 
years  since  their  compiler  became  interested  in  tracing 
out  the  first  display  of  Our  Starry  Flag  on  foreign 
seas,  and  the  notes  he  then  gathered  resulted  in  the 
preparation  of  an  article  entitled  "  The  First  Appear- 
ance of  the  Flag  of  the  Free,"  which  was  published  in 


VI  PREFACE. 

the  Portland  Daily  Advertiser,  and  thence  exten- 
sively copied  into  other  journals.  Around  that  article 
from  time  to  time  became  concreted  numerous  addi- 
tional facts  which  were  embodied  in  another  and  longer 
newspaper  article  on  the  same  topic.  His  interest  in 
the  subject  grew  with  the  increase  of  knowledge.  New 
facts  were  accumulated  and  sought  for  wherever  to  be 
obtained.  The  war  of  the  rebellion  added  a  fresh 
impulse  to  his  inquiries,  and  new  and  interesting  inci- 
dents. The  result  is  the  present  volume  of  memoirs 
which,  if  not  rendered  interesting  by  the  graces  of  a 
practised  authorship,  can  claim  to  be  a  faithful  record 
of  facts. 

Following  the  idea  of  Proudhon,  the  writer  would 
say,  he  will  be  glad  to  receive  from  his  readers  any 
added  facts  and  incidents,  or  corrections  that  will  ena- 
ble him  to  complete  his  memorial  of  our  grand  old 
flag,  and  help  to  perpetuate  it  as  the  chosen  emblem  of 
Liberty  and  Union. 

Collected  as  these  memoirs  were  chiefly  for  his 
own  amusement  and  instruction,  in  committing  them 
to  the  public,  the  compiler  hopes  they  may  in- 
terest and  amuse  others  as  much  as  the  collecting 
them  has  himself.  If  they  serve  to  revive  and  pre- 
serve in  the  smallest  degree,  a  patriotic  sentiment 
for  our  starry  banner,  his  ambition  will  be  accomplished, 
his  end  attained. 

Among  the  many  books  examined,  and  to  which 
due  credit  should  be  given  for  many  facts,  have  been 
the  volumes  of  the  Historical  Magazine,  ist  and  2d 
series,  18  vols. ;  the  Massachusetts  Hist.  Coll.;  Sparks's 
Life  and  Writings  of  Washington  and  Franklin;  the  N.  E. 


PREFACE.  Vii 

Hist,  and  Gen.  Register,  25  vols  ;  the  Life  and  Works 
of  John  Adams;  Hamilton's  and  Sarmiento's  Historiesof 
the  Flag;  Savage's  Lectures,  1853;  the  Gentleman  s 
Magazine,  150  vols;  the  London  Magazine;  the  Ame- 
rican Archives ;  Cooper's  Hist.  U.  S.  Navy;  Clark's 
Hist.  U.  S.  Navy ;  Boynton's  Hist.  U.  S.  Navy ;  U.  S. 
Naval  Chronicle ;  the  Naval  Monument ;  the  Naval 
Temple ;  Botta's  Am.  Revolution ;  Life  of  Elbridge  Gerry ; 
Smith's  Hist.  Newburyport ;  the  U.  S.  Statutes ;  Froth- 
ingham's  Siege  of  Boston  and  Life  of  Warren ;  the  Penny 
Cyclopedia;  the  American  Cyclopedia;  Kitto's  Bible  Cy- 
clopedia ;  the  London  News,  and  Brewster's  and  Cham- 
bers's  Encyclopedias;  the  Encyclopedia  Americana  and 
Eritannica;  Benton's  Debates;  the  Army  and  Navy 
Regulations ;  Bancroft's  Hist,  of  the  U.  S. ;  the  Army 
and  Navy  Chronicle,  1835  to  1841  ;  London  Notes  and 
Queries,  40  vols;  the  United  Service  Magazine,  90  vols. ; 
the  British  Naval  Chronicle,  40  vols. ;  Army  and  Navy 
Journal,  9  vols.  ;  United  States  Ser.  Magazine,  5  vols. ; 
Chambers's  Book  of  Days ;  Fairholt's  Diet,  of  Terms 
of  Art;  Various  books  of  Heraldry,etc. ;  James's,  En- 
tick's,  Lediard's,  Burchet's  Naval  Histories;  Sir 
Nicolas  Harris's  Hist.  Royal  Navy,  i  vols ;  Brunei's 
Regal  A rmorie  ;  Westcott's  History  of  Philadelphia,  etc., 
etc.,  etc. 

More  than  a  thousand  volumes  have  been  examined 
in  the  preparation  of  these  memoirs,  and  an  extensive 
correspondence  has  been  a  necessity.  I  may,  therefore, 
say  to  my  readers  as  Montesquieu  remarked  to  a  friend 
concerning  a  particular  part  of  his  writings  :  c<  You  will 
read  it  in  a  few  hours,  but  I  assure  you  it  has  cost 
me  so  much  labor  that  it  has  whitened  my  hair." 


viii  PREFACE. 

I  would  express  my  obligations  to  Messrs.  John 
A.  McAllister,  Wm.  J.  Canby,  Wm.  D.  Gemmill, 
and  Chas.  J.  Lukens  of  Philadelphia,  and  Messrs.  B. 
J.  Lossing  and  Chas.  J.  Bushnell  of  New  York,  for 
valuable  suggestions  and  facts,  and  particularly  to  Mr. 
John  A.  McAllister,  who  has  been  unwearied  in  search- 
ing for  and  completing  evidences  of  facts  which  were 
otherwise  beyond  my  reach.  There  are  other  friends 
too  numerous  to  mention,  who  have  given  me  their 
assistance,  who  will  please  accept  my  silent  acknowledg- 
ments. 

In  1864  the  manuscript  of  this  book,  in  its  then 
incomplete  state,  was  forwarded  from  abroad  to  the  ma- 
nagers of  the  National  Sailors'  Fair  at  Boston,  as  a  con- 
tribution to  that  charity,  which  resulted  in  the  esta- 
blishment of  the  National  Sailor's  Home  at  Quincy, 
Mass.  It  arrived,  however,  too  late  to  be  printed  for 
its  benefit. 


Naval  Rendezvous,  Navy  Yard, 

Charlestown,  Mass. 

September  loth,  1872. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


COLORED  PLATES. 

Page. 

I.  United  States  National  and  Revenue  Ensigns,  Jacks  and  Pennants,  1872, 

to  face  the  title. 
II.  The  Flags  of  European  States,  1871,        ------     67 

III.  The  Flags  of  American  States,  Oriental  Nations,  &c.  (Part  II),          -  101 

IV.  The  New  England  Colors,  1686,     -         -         -         -         -         -         -123 

V.  St.  George's  and  St.  Andrew's  Crosses;    The  Union  or  King's  Colors, 

1606;  Union  Ensign,  1707;  Grand  Union  Flag,  Jan.  i,  1776,     -     133 

VI.  Flags  of  1775,  1776, 143 

VII.  The  Grand  Union  Flag  of  1776  a  Facsimile  of  the  Flag  of  the  Schooner 

Royal  Savage, 153 

VIII.  The  Stars  and   Stripes    1777-1872;   Proposed  United  States  Standard, 

1818  (Part  III), 179 

IX.  Southern  flags,  1861-64  (Part  V), 287 

X.  Distinctive  Flags  of  the  United  States  Navy,   1776-1872  (Part  VI),       455 
XI.   Distinctive   Pennants,  and  Flags  United  States  Navy  1866-1872,        -       467 
XII.   American  Yacht  Ensign,  with  the  Club  Signals  and  Pennants  of  the  New 
York,  Boston,  Portland,  Eastern,  San  Francisco,  South  Boston,  Bunker 
Hill  and  Dorchester  Clubs,     -         -         -         -         -         -         -485 


Portrait  of  Commodore  Hopkins,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  American  Navy 
being  an  albert-type  facsimile  of  a  mezzotinto  engraving  published  by  TAos. 
Hart  Aug.  22,  1776,  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -164 

The  Standard  of  the  Philadelphia  Light  Horse,  presented  to  that  corps  by  Capt. 
Abraham  Markoe,  1774-75,  lithographed,  from  a  drawing  taken  from  the 
original  standard  by  C.  J.  Lukens  of  Philadelphia,  -  -  -  -  -183 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


WOOD  ENGRAVINGS. 


Page. 

Pulaski's  Banner,  1778,         -         -  17 
Flag   of  Washington's  Life  Guard, 

1776, 18 

De  Montfort's  Banner,       -         -  23 

Bannerole  of  Oliver  Cromwell,        -  24 
Pennon    of    Sir   John    Daubernon, 

1277,  25 
Ten  Ensigns  of  the    nth  Century 

from  the  Bayeaux  Tapestry,      £-  27 

Ancient  Ship  and  Ensign,          -  27 
Streamer   and  Ship  of  the  Earl  of 

Warwick,  -  -  -  -  31 
Knights  Templar  Standards,  -  40 
Hospitaller's  Standard,  -  -  -  41 
Egyptian  Standards,  -  -  '  -  42 
Standards  of  Pharaoh,  -  -  -4.1 
Assyrian  Standards,  44 
A  Roman  Standard,  -  -  -  46 
Labarum  of  Constantine,  47 
Roman  Imperial  Standards,  -  -  47 
Imperial  Standard  of  Japan,  -  61 
Balboa  taking  possession  of  the  Paci- 
fic Ocean,  1513,  -  -  -  66 
A  Spanish  Standard,  1558,  -  -  67 
Royal  Standard  of  Russia,  68 
Royal  Standard  of  Portugal,  -  -  68 
Banner  of  Charlemagne,  -  -  71 
The  Auriflamme,  -  -  -  72 
The  Bourbon  Royal  Standard,  -  73 
The  Crest  of  the  Black  Prince,  -  8  a 
Banner  of  Henry  Plantagenet,  -  83 
Two  Standards  of  Henry  VIII,  -  85 
The  Standard  of  Edward  III,  -  86 
The  Douglass  Standard,  1388,  -  88 
Arms  of  Henry  V,  -  -  -  86 
Flag  unfurled  by  Columbus,  1492,  no 
Standard  of  Spain,  1492,  -  -  no 
Raleigh's  Ship,  1585,  ...  u<j 


Page. 

The  Long  Parliament  Flag,  -  118 
The  Three  County  Troops'  Standard, 

1659-77,  -  -  -  -  123 
Colors  of  Capt.  Noyes's  Company, 

1684, 124 

The  King's  colors   at  New^York, 

1670,  ....  126 
St.  George's  Cross,  1679,  •  -  126 
Flag  of  American  Merchantmen, 

1709,  ....  ia8 
English  Ensign,  1707,  -  -  -  129 
Scotch  Ensign,  1707,  -  -  129 
East  India  Co.  Ensign,  1707,  -  129 
Scotch  Union  Flag,  1707,  -  129 
Irish  Ensign,  1707,  -  -  -  129 
New  England  Ensign,  1707^?'-  129 
New  Netherlands  Seal,  -  -  1 37 

American  Revolutionary  Flag,  1775,  139 
The  PinqTree  Flag^from  a  map,  177  6, 140 
American  Floating  Battery,  1776,  140 
The  Snake  Device,  -  -  148 

Flag  destroyed  at  Cheapside,  1644,  154 
East  India  Co.'s  Flag,  1704,  -  -  156 
East  India  Co.'s  Flag,  1834,  -  155 
Dutch  W.  I.  Co.'s  Flag,  1622,  -  156 
American  Flag  at  White  Plains, 

1776,  --.-  177 
Device  on  Standard  of  the  Philadel- 
phia, Light  Horse,  1775,  -  183 
Bark  Maria,  1859,  -  -  -  215 
A  Proposed  U.  S.  Standard,  1818,  255 
Fac-simile  of  Copper  Plate,  1785,  258 
Raising  our  Flag  at  Sumter,  1860,  313 
Steamer  Star  of  the  West,  1861,  -  317 
Nailing  the  Flag  to  theMast  at  Sumter,  334 
Repossession  of  Sumter,  1865,  -  347 
Challenge  Cup  won  by  Yacht  Ame- 
rica, 1851.  -  -  -  488 


PART    I. 


THE  STANDARDS,  FLAGS,  BANNERS,  ETC.,  OF 
ANCIENT  AND  MODERN  NATIONS. 


A1STD  PROGRESS 


OF  NATIONAL  STANDARDS,  FLAGS,  BANNERS,  SYMBOLS, 
DEVICES,  ETC. 

Symbols  and  colors  enabling  nations  to  distinguish  themselves 
from  each  other,  have  from  the  most  remote  periods  exercised 
a  very  powerful  influence  upon  mankind.  That  a  standard  or 
ensign  was  borne  in  the  armies  of  all  nations  from  the  most 
distant  era,,  is  a  fact  too  well  established  both  by  sacred  and  pro- 
fane history  to  admit  of  the  slightest  doubt.  A  colored  banner 
was  one  of  the  earliest,  as  it  was  the  simplest  of  military  ensigns, 
and  as  tribes  and  nations  multiplied,  these  banners  naturally 
became  particolored  by  stripes  and  other  linear  divisions,  and 
then  emblazoned  with  the  devices  of  the  several  chieftains. 
Thus  these  symbols,  which  during  peaceful  times  seem  but 
trivial  ornaments,  became  in  political  or  religious  disturbances, 
a  lever  like  unto  that  of  Archimedes  and  convulsed  the  world. 
Before  commencing  the  memoir  of  the  particular  flag  which 
this  volume  commemorates,  I  propose  to  briefly  notice  some  of 
the  standards  and  banners  of  other  nations. 

History  has,  in  general,  failed  to  appreciate  the  value  of  these 
symbols,  which  have  often  given  ascendancy  to  party,  and  lead 
armies  on  to  victory  with  more  certainty  and  dispatch  than  the 
combinations  of  tactics  and  the  most  disinterested  valor. 

We  talk  of  the  wars  of  the  white  and  red  roses,  of  the 
contest  between  the  crescent  and  the  cross,  and  of  the  eagles 
of  the  Romans  ;  of  the  meteor  flag  of  England,  and  of  the 
cross  of  St.  George  ;  of  the  white  plume  and  banner  of  Henry, 
and  lilies  and  tri-color  of  France,  and  of  our  own  starry  banner 


12  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

which,  said  Edward  Everett  (May  27,  1861),"  speaks  for  itself. 
Its  mute  eloquence  needs  no  aid  to  interpret  its  significance. 
Fidelity  to  the  Union  blazes  from  its  stars,  allegiance  to  the 
government  beneath  which  we  live  is  wrapped  in  its  folds." 

OF  FLAGS.- 

FLAG.  Swed.  flake,  Teutonic  and  old  French  flacke,  Bel. 
flack,  flak,  derived  from  the  early  use  of  rushes  for  streamers,  is 
defined  by  the  London  Encyclopedia  as  "a  small  banner  of 
distinction  used  in  the  army,  and  .stuck  in  a  baggage  wagon,  to 
distinguish  the  baggage  of  one  brigade  from  another,  and  of  one 
batallion  from  another,"  but  is  most  properly  used  to  denote 
the  colors  worn  at  the  mastheads  of  national  vessels  to  mark 
the  rank  or  quality  of  the  person  commanding  a  squadron  or 
fleet.  The  admiral  of  a  squadron  or  fleet  is  commonly  styled 
the  flag  officer  or  flag,  from  the  square  flag  hoisted  at  one  of 
the  mastheads  of  the  vessel  on  which  he  is  embarked,  and 
which  denotes  to  the  rest  of  the  fleet  his  presence  there,  and 
causes  his  ship  to  be  designated  as  the  flag  ship. 

In  common  parlance,  however,  under  the  generic  name  of  flag 
is  included,  standards,  ancients  or  ensigns,  banners,  bannerolls, 
colors,  streamers,  pennons,  pennoncelles,  gonfanons,  guidons, 
coronetts  or  coronells  (hence  the  title  of  colonel),  and  the  like. 

The  first  flag  of  Great  Britain  (see  plate  u)  is  generally  known 
as  the  Royal  standard ;  that  is,  a  banner  or  square  flag  blazoned 
with  the  arms  of  the  United  Kingdom  which  is  hoisted  at  the 
masthead,  whenever  the  sovereign  of  the  realm,  or  any  mem- 
ber of  the  royal  family  is  embarked  on  board  a  vessel,  or  is 
hoisted  on  the  flag-staff  over  their  residence  wherever  they  may 
be  on  shore.  The  royal  salute  for  this  flag  is  twenty-one  guns. 

The  second  flag  is  that  of  the  lord  high  admiral  or  of  the 
commissioners  performing  the  duties  of  that  high  office.  This 
flag  is  "  a  crimson  banner,"  with  "  an  anchor  argent  gorged  in 
the  arm  with  a  coronet  and  a  cable  through  the  ring  fretted  in 
a  true  lover's  knot  with  the  ends  pendant."  (Plate  n). 

Thus  it  was  carried  by  the  Earl  of  Southampton  in  the  reign 
of  Henry  VIII  ;  by  the  Earl  of  Lincoln  in  the  time  of  Mary, 
except  that  he  bore  the  stem  and  flukes  of  the  anchor  argent, 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  13 

the  ring  and  stock  or,  and  the  cable  azure.  The  Duke  of 
Buckingham  used  the  anchor  cable  entwined,  all  or,  much 
as  it  now  is.  In  the  reign  of  Charles  II,  the  Duke  of  York 
placed  his  arms  on  an  anchor  surmounted  by  his  coronet.  The 
only  account  we  have  of  the  flag  of  the  lord  high  admiral 
being  carried  at  sea  by  an  individual,  is  in  the  Memoirs  of  Sir 
John  Leake,  which  say  "  The  Earl  of  Berkeley  being  then 
(2 ist  March,  1719),  vice  admiral  of  Great  Britain,  and  first 
lord  commissioner  of  the  admiralty,  endeavored  to  come  as  near 
the  lord  high  admiral  as  possible  both  in  power  and  state  ;  by  a 
particular  warrant  from  the  crown  he  hoisted  the  lord  high 
admiral's  flag  as  it  is  called  — the  first  time  I  believe  it  was  ever 
worn  in  command  at  sea  —  and  had  three  captains  appointed 
under  him  as  lord  high  admiral ;  Littleton  then  vice  admiral  of 
the  White  being  his  first  captain.  The  Earl  of  Berkeley  was 
one  of  fortune's  favorites.  As  lord  Dursley  at  the  age  of 
twenty  he  commanded  the  Lichfield,  fifty,  his  second  com- 
mand. When  twenty-three  he  commanded  the  Boyne,  80, 
at  twenty-seven  was  vice  admiral  of  the  Blue,  and  a  few  months 
afterward  vice  admiral  of  the  White,  and  in  the  following  year 
being  then  only  twenty-eight,  vice  admiral  of  the  Red.  At  the 
age  of  thirty- eight  he  hoisted  his  flag,  on  the  Dorsetshire  as  lord 
high  admiral,  being  then  actually  vice  admiral  of  England  and 
first  lord  of  the  admiralty.  He  died  near  Rochelle  in  France, 
August  17,  1736,  aged  fifty-five. 

The  lord  high  admirals  flag  is  entitled  to  a  salute  of  nineteen 
guns. 

The  third  flag  is  that  of  the  lord  lieutenant  of  Ireland,  which  is 
the  Union  Jack  having  in  the  centre  of  the  crosses  a  blue  shield 
emblazoned  with  a  golden  harp.  (Plate  n).  This  flag  is  worn  at 
the  main  top  gallant  mast-head  of  any  ship  in  which  his  excel- 
lency may  embark  within  the  Irish  waters  or  in  St.  George's 
channel,  and  is  entitled  to  the  same  salute  as  that  of  the  lord  high 
admiral. 

The  fourth  flag  is  the  Union  or  Union  Jack,  as  it  is  called,  in 
which  are  blended  the  crosses  of  St.  George,  St.  Andrew  and 
St.  Patrick,  emblematic  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  England,  Scot- 
tand,  and  Ireland,  and  appropriated  to  the  admiral  of  the  fleet  of 
the  United  Kingdom  ;  it  is  worn  at  the  main,  and  is  entitled  to 
a  salute  of  seventeen  guns. 


14  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Next  and  fifth  in  rank  is  the  cross  of  St.  George,  a  white  flag 
with  a  red  cross,  the  sign  of  the  old  crusaders,  which  is  worn  by 
the  admirals  of  the  royal  navy  at  the  main  by  vice  admirals  at  the 
fore,  and  by  rear  admirals  at  the  mizzen  mastheads  of  their  re- 
spective ships.  Until  1864,  Great  Britain  had  admirals,  and  vice, 
and  rear  admirals  of  the  red,  white  and  blue.  By  act  of  parlia- 
ment that  year,  the  red  ensign  was  wholly  given  up  to  the  use  of  the 
merchant  marine.  The  blue  ensigns  assigned  to  merchant  and 
packet  ships  commanded  by  the  officers  of  the  newly  organized 
naval  reserve  or  naval  militia,  and  the  white  ensign,  alone  reserved 
for  the  royal  navy.  (Plate  II).  The  salute  of  an  admiral  is  15,  of 
a  vice  admiral  13,  and  of  a  rear  admiral  1 1  guns  in  the  royal  navy. 

Merchant  vessels  frequently  carry  small  flags  at  their  mast- 
heads, bearing  the  arms,  monograms,  or  other  devices  of  their 
owners  or  commanders,  or  designating  the  province  or  port  to 
which  the  vessel  may  belong. 

The  flag  of  the  president  of  the  United  States,  hoisted  at 
the  main,  to  denote  his  presence  on  board  a  ship  or  vessel  of 
war  is  appropriately  the  National  Ensign^  the  flag  of  the  sove- 
reign people  of  whom  he  is  only  the  popular  representative,  and 
from  whom  he  derives  power  and  authority. 

The  vice  president  and  members  of  the  cabinet  (the  secretary 
of  the  navy  excepted),  are  also  designated  by  the  national  flag 
worn  at  the  fore  during  their  presence  on  board  a  vessel  of  war, 
and  it  always  floats  at  the  Capitol  over  the  senate  chamber  and 
house  of  representatives  whenever  those  bodies  are  in  session,  a 
custom  which  is  followed  in  most  of  the  states  of  the  Union, 
whenever  their  legislative  bodies  are  in  session. 

A  special  mark  of  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  established  in  1 866, 
was  a  square  blue  flag  having  a  white  foul  anchor  placed  verti- 
cally in  the  centre  with  four  white  stars  surrounding  it,  one  in 
each  corner  of  the  flag.  By  an  order  dated  1869,  this  flag  be- 
came obsolete,  and  the  union  jack  was  substituted  and  established 
as  his  designating  flag,  to  be  hoisted  at  the  main  when  he  is 
embarked  on  board  a  vessel  of  the  navy. 

The  first  rear  admiral's  flag  in  our  navy,  was  the  plain,  blue 
flag  which  had  been  used  by  the  rank  of  flag  officer  established 
before  the  introduction -of  admirals  to  the  service.  This  flag  to 
be  worn  at  the  main  by  the  three  senior  rear  admirals,  at  the  fore 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  15 

by  the  next  three  in  seniority,  and  at  the  mizzen  by  the  three 
junior  rear  admirals,  was  first  hoisted  at  the  main  on  board  the 
Hartford,  in  1862,  by  Rear  Admiral  Farragut,  who  had  previously 
as  flag  officer,  carried  it  at  the  fore.  The  absurdity  of  a  rear 
admiral  wearing  his  flag  at  the  fore  or  main  was  so  apparent  and 
so  contrary  to  the  custom  of  other  nations,  that  at  the  suggestion 
of  Hon.  R.  H.  Dana,  Jr.,  the  following  congress  repealed  the 
law,  after  which  a  square  flag,  blue,  red  or  white,  hoisted  at  the 
mizzen,  according  to  the  seniority  of  the  officer  was  adopted. 
Next  after  the  introduction  of  the  grades  of  admiral,  and  vice 
admiral,  the  device  adopted  for  the  admiral  was  four  white 
stars  arranged  as  a  diamond  in  a  blue  field  to  be  hoisted  at  the 
main  (the  flag  of  Farragut).  For  the  vice  admiral  three  white 
five  pointed  stars  arranged  as  an  equilateral  triangle  on  a  blue 
field  to  be  hoisted  at  the  fore.  For  rear  admirals  a  square  blue, 
red  or  white  flag  at  the  mizzen  according  to  their  seniority  with 
two  stars  placed  vertically  in  the  centre  of  the  flag.  The  color 
of  the  stars,  to  be  white  when  the  flag  was  blue  or  red,  and  blue 
when  the  flag  was  white.  The  commodore's  broad  pennants 
were  swallow-tailed  flags  or  banners,  the  same  in  color  accord- 
ing to  their  seniority  as  the  rear  admiral's  flags, and  until  the  regu- 
lation of  1866,  were  studded  with  a  constellation  of  stars  equal 
in  number  to  the  states  of  the  Union,  but  by  the  regulations  then 
established,  only  one  star  in  the  centre,  was  emblazoned  on  their 
field. 

In  1869,  another  radical  change  was  made  in  the  designating 
flags  of  admirals  and  commodores ;  square  flags  with  thirteen 
alternate  red  and  white  stripes,  were  then  prescribed  for  all  the 
grades  of  admirals,  their  position  on  the  fore  main  or  mizzen  mast 
showing  the  grade  of  the  officer  whether  admiral,  vice,  or  rear  ;  and 
if  two  rear  admirals  should  happen  to  meet  in  the  same  port  in 
command,  then  the  junior  is  directed  while  in  the  presence  of  the 
senior  to  wear  two  red  stars  perpendicular  in  a  white  canton  on 
the  upper  luffof  the  flag.  The  commodore's  pendant  is  swallow- 
tailed,  but  otherwise  like  the  admiral's  flag,  and  worn  at  the  main 
fore  or  according  to  seniority  when  more  than  one  are  in  port 
together. 

Each  of  the  states  of  our  Union  and  most  of  the  territories  has 
a  flag  of  its  own,  generally  of  one  color,  white,  blue,  or  red,  and 


1(3  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

blazoned  with  the  arms  of  the  state.  This  flag  is  carried  by  the 
state  militia  into  battle  or  on  parade  side  by  side  with  the  national 
standard.  The  state  flag  of  Vermont  has  thirteen  stripes  like 
those  on  the  national  flag,  and  a  blue  union  with  one  large  white 
star,  bearing  in  its  centre  the  state  arms.  The  national  standard 
of  Texas,  in  1836,  previous  to  its  admission  into  our  Union,  was 
a  blue  flag  bearing  a  golden  star  in  its  centre.  Its  national  flag 
had  a  blue  perpendicular  stripe  its  whole  width  next  the  staff 
bearing  a  white  star,  and  the  fly  of  the  flag  divided  into  two 
equal  horizontal  stripes,  white  and  red,  white  uppermost.  The 
naval  flag  of  Texas  was  the  same  as  our  national  flag,  except 
that  the  Union  had  but  one  white  star.  Since  her  admission  to  the 
Union,  Texas  has  legalized  no  other  flag. 

In  answer  to  a  letter  of  inquiry,  the  secretary  of  the  state  of 
Iowa  in  1866,  wrote  me  :  "The  state  has  no  state  flag  other  than 
the  stars  and  stripes,  a  large  interest  in  which  she  claims  ;"  and 
Brigham  Young,  in  reply  to  a  similar  inquiry  respecting  Utah, 
said,  "  We  have  no  territorial  flag,  our  flag  is  that  of  the  nation, 
the  stars  and  stripes." 

An  interesting  relic  of  the  period  of  the  revolution  of  1776  is 
the  banner  or  flag  of  Count  Pulaski,  presented  to  him  by  the 
Moravian  sisters  of  Bethlehem,  Penn. 

Count  Pulaski  was  appointed  a  brigadier  in  the  Continental 
army  on  the  I5thof  Sept.,  1777,  just  after  the  battle  of  the  Brandy 
wine,  and  was  given  the  command  of  the  cavalry. 

He  resigned  the  command  in  a  few  months,  and  obtained  from 
congress  permission  to  raise  and  command  an  independent  corps 
to  consist  of  68  horse  and  200  foot,  which  was  chiefly  raised  and 
fully  organized  in  Baltimore  in  1778.  Pulaski  visited  Lafayette 
while  wounded  and  a  recipient  of  the  care  and  hospitality  of  the 
Moravian  sisters  at  Bethlehem,  Penn.  His  presence,  and  event- 
ful history  made  a  deep  impression  upon  the  minds  of  that 
community,  and  when  informed  that  he  was  organizing  a  corps 
of  cavalry,  they  prepared  a  banner  of  crimson  silk,  with  de- 
signs beautifully  wrought  with  the  needle  by  their  own  hands 
and  sent  it  to  Pulaski  with  their  blessing.  The  memory  of  this 
event  has  been  embalmed  in  beautiful  verse  by  Longfellow. 

Pulaski  received  the  banner  with  grateful  acknowledgments, 
and  bore  it  gallantly  through  many  a  martial  scene,  until  he  fell 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES. 


17 


in  conflict  at  Savannah,  in  the  autumn  of  1779.  His  banner 
was  saved  by  his  first  lieutenant  (who  received  fourteen  wounds), 
and  delivered  to  Captain  Bentalon,  who  on  retiring  from  the 
army,  took  the  banner  home  with  him  to  Baltimore.  It  was 
used  in  the  procession  that  welcomed  Lafayette  to  that  city  in 
1824,  a"d  was  then  deposited  in  Peale's  Museum,  where  it  was 
ceremoniously  received  by  several  young  ladies.  Mr.  Edmund 
Peale  presented  it  to  the  Maryland  Historical  Society,  in  1844, 
where  it  is  now  carefully  preserved  in  a  glass  case.  Little  of 
its  former  beauty  remains.  It  is  composed  of  double  silk,  now 
faded  to  a  dull  brownish  red.  The  designs  on  each  side  are 
embroidered  with  yellow  silk,  the  letters  shaded  with  green,  and  a 
deep  bullion  fringe  ornaments  the  edge.  The  size  of  the  banner 
is  twenty  inches  square.  It  was  attached  to  a  lance  when  borne 
in  the  field. 

On  one  side  of  the  banner  are  the  letters  U.  S.,  and  in  a  circle 
around  them,  the  words  UNITAS  VIRTUS  FORCIOR  —  Union 
makes  valor  stronger.  The  letter  C  in  the  last  word  is  incor- 
rect, it  should  be  T.  On  the  other  side  in  the  centre,  is  the  all- 
seeing  eye,  with  the  words  NON  ALIUS  REGIT  —  No  other 
governs. 


Pulaski's  Banner. 


One  of  the  most  interesting  of  our  Revolutionary  flags  is 
the  flag  of  Washington's  Life  Guard  which  is  preserved  in  the 
Museum  of  Alexandria,  Va.  It  is  of  white  silk  on  which  the  de- 
vice is  neatly  painted.  One  of  the  guard  is  holding  a  horse, 
and  in  the  act  of  receiving  a  flag  from  the  Genius  of  Liberty  per- 
sonified as  a  woman  leaning  upon  the  Union  shield,  near  which 
is  an  American  eagle.  The  motto  of  the  corps,  CONQUER  OR 
3 


18 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


DIE,  is  on  a  ribbon  over  the  device.  This  Life  Guard  was  a 
distinct  corps  of  mounted  men,  attached  to  the  person  of  Wash- 
ington, but  never  spared  in  battle.  It  was  organized  in  1776, 

soon  after  the  siege  of  Boston, 
while  the  American  army  was  en- 
camped near  the  city  of  New 
York.  It  consisted  of  a  major's 
command,  one  hundred  and  eighty 
men,  and  its  chief  bore  the  title 
of  captain  commandant.  The 
uniform  of  the  guard  consisted 
ofa  blue  coat  with  white  facings, 
white  waistcoat  and  breeches, 
blue  half  gaiters,  and  a  cocked  hat 
with  a  white  plume.  They 

Flag  of  the  Washington  Life  Guards.  -11  j 

^  carried   muskets,  and    occasion- 

ally side  arms.  Care  was  taken  to  have  all  the  states,  from  which 
the  Continental  army  was  supplied  with  troops,  represented  in 
this  corps. 


BANNERS,  BANDEROLES,  GUIDONS,  PENNON^, 
ENSIGNS,  ETC. 

BANNERS. 

BANNER  ;  Dutch,  Baniere ;  French,  Banniere ;  German,  Ban- 
nler ;  Italian,  Banda,  Bandlera ;  Swedish,  Baner. 

A  flag  the  bond-roll  or  bond  sign,  the  sign  of  union,  the  flag 
or  standard  under  which  men  were  united  or  bound  for  some 
common  purpose. 

Various  opinions  are  entertained  as  to  the  etymology  of  the  name. 
Some  derive  it  from  the  Latin  bandum,  a  band  or  flag,  others 
from  the  German  ban,  a  rallying  point,  a  field,  a  tenement,  be- 
cause only  landed  men  were  allowed  a  banner.  Others  again 
believe  it  a  corruption  of  pannlere  from  pannus  cloth,  because 
banners  were  originally  made  of  cloth.  The  Germans  are  said 


1  Shakespeare  uses  colors  to  denote  military  flags. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  19 

to  have  fastened  a  streamer  to  a  lance,  which  the  duke  carried 
in  front  of  the  army,  and  which  was  called  band^  afterwards 
a  large  cloth  was  used,  ornamented  with  emblems  and  inscrip- 
tions. 

Knights  wore  a  pointed  flag,  pennant,  or  streamer.  Banner- 
ets, or  little  banner  men,  were  of  a  rank  above  a  simple  knight, 
and  yet  below  that  of  a  baron.  They  were  usually  created  on 
a  battle-field,  when  the  candidate  presented  his  pennon  to  the  king 
or  general,  who  cut  off  the  train  of  it,  and  thus  making  it  square, 
returned  it  to  the  banneret  as  the  symbol  of  his  increased  rank. 
From  these  customs  may  be  traced  the  broad  pennants  worn  by 
commodores  and  the  square  flags  of  our  admirals. 

The  form  of  the  banner  has  been  made  to  assume  almost  every 
shape  so  small  a  parallelogram  could  be  converted  into,  though 
as  a  general  rule  in  banners  of  cognizance  or  individual  escutch- 
eons, its  size  bore  relation  to  the  respective  rank  of  the  parties  i 
thus  the  banner  of  an  earl  would  be  larger  than  that  of  a  baron, 
and  his  still  larger  than  that  of  a  banneret.  Anciently  banners 
were  plain,  and  of  several  colors,  but  they  were  early  ornamented 
with  devices  of  men  and  animals,  and  finally  used  as  a  flying 
shield  to  display  the  blazonry  of  the  bearer,  the  symbols  of  a 
nation,  or  the  heraldry  of  a  particular  order,  or  a  department  of  the 
state. 

The  banner,  says  Burke  in  his  Heraldic  Register for  1849-50, 
is  coeval  with  the  introduction  of  heraldry,  and  dates  conse- 
quently from  the  I2th  century.  It  was  of  nearly  a  square  form, 
and  served  as  a  rallying  point  of  the  several  divisions  of  which 
the  army  was  composed.  To  judge  from  the  siege  of  Carle- 
verock,1  it  would  seem  that  early  in  the  I4th  century  there  was 
a  banner  to  every  twenty-five  or  thirty  men  at  arms,  and  that 
thus  the  battle  array  was  marshaled.  At  that  period  the  Eng- 
lish forces  comprised  the  tenants  in  caplte  of  the  crown,  with 
their  followers  ;  and  it  appears  that  such  tenants  were  entitled 
to  lead  their  contingent  under  a  banner  of  their  arms ;  but  the 
precise  number  so  furnished  which  conferred  the  privilege,  has 


1  The  siege  of  Carleverock  is  the  title  of  a  poem  descriptive  of  the  banners  of  the 
peers  and  knights  of  the  English  army  who  were  present  at  the  seigc  of  Carleverock 
castle  in  Scotland,  in  Feb.,  1301.  A  fine  copy  of  this  work  has  been  recently  added 
to  the  Boston  Public  Library. 


20  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

not  been  ascertained.  When  the  tenant  In  capite  was  unable  to 
attend  in  person  from  illness  or  other  cause,  he  nevertheless  sent 
his  quota  of  soldiers  and  archers  the  tenure  of  his  lands  en- 
joined, and  his  banner  was  committed  to  the  charge  of  a  deputy 
of  equal  rank  to  his  own.  Thus  at  Carleverock,  the  Bishop  of 
Durham  sent  one  hundred  and  sixty  of  his  men  at  arms,  with 
his  banner,  entrusted  to  John  de  Hastings  ;  and  the  good  Edmund 
Lord  d'Eyncourt,  who  could  not  attend  himself,  "  ses  deux  bon 
filz  en  son  lieu  mist,"  sent  his  two  brave  sons  in  his  stead  with 
his  banner  of  blue  billetee  of  gold,  with  a  dancettee  over  all. 
The  right  to  bear  a  banner  was  confined  to  bannerets  and  per- 
sons of  higher  rank.  In  1361,  Edward  III  granted  to  Sir  Guy 
de  Bryan  two  hundred  marks  a  year  for  having  discreetly  borne 
the  king's  banner  at  the  siege  of  Calais,  in  1347,  and  Thomas 
Strickland,  the  esquire,  who  so  gallantly  sustained  Henry's  banner 
at  Agincourt,  urged  the  service  as  worthy  of  remuneration  from 
Henry  VI.  In  Scotland  the  representative  of  the  great  house 
of  Scrymgsour  still  enjoys  the  honor  of  being  hereditary  banner 
bearer  of  the  queen,  an  office  which  by  special  grant  Alex- 
ander I,  in  1107,  appointed  a  member  of  the  Carron  family,  and 
gave  him  the  title  Scrimgeour,  for  his  valor  in  a  sharp  fight. 

Two  manuscripts  in  the  British  Museum,  not  older  in  date 
than  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII,  afford  us  the  most  authentic  in- 
formation as  to  the  sizes  of  banners,  standards  and  pennons  ; 
extracts  from  them  are  printed  in  an  article  on  banners  which 
appeared  in  the  Retrospective  Review,  in  1827.  That  valuable 
work,  Excerpta  Historica,  has  many  interesting  details  on  the 
subject. 

Everard,  a  correspondent  of  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  in 
1792,  is  authority  for  stating  that  bannerets  "  were  feudal  lords 
who,  possessing  several  large  fees  led  their  vassals  to  battle  under 
their  own  flag  or  banner  when  summoned  thereto  by  the  king, 
whereas  the  backlarius  eques  or  little  knights  in  contradistinction 
to  bannerets  who  were  great  knights,  followed  that  of  another." 
To  be  qualified  for  a  banneret,  one  must  have  been  a  gentleman  of 
family,  and  must  have  had  the  power  to  raise  a  certain  number  of 
armed  men,  with  an  estate  enough  to  subsist  twenty-eight  or  thirty 


1  Retrospective  Review,  ad  series,  vol.  I,  page  113. 


FLAG  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES.  21 

men.  This  must  have  been  very  considerable  in  those  days  ;  be- 
cause each  man,  besides  his  servants,  had  two  horsemen  to  wait  on 
him  armed,  the  one  with  a  cross  bow,  the  other  with  a  bow  and 
hatchet. 

As  no  one  was  allowed  to  be  a  baron  vf\\o  had  not  above  thirteen 
knights'  fees,  so  no  one  was  admitted  to  be  a  banneret  if  he  had 
less  than  ten. 

Some  have  it  that  bannerets  were  originally  persons  who  had 
some  portions  of  a  barony  assigned  them  and  enjoyed  it  under 
the  title  baro  proximus.  Some  again  find  the  origin  of  bannerets 
in  P'rance,  others  in  Brittany  ;  others  in  England.  These  last 
attribute  the  institution  of  bannerets  to  Conan,  lieutenant  of 
Maximus,  who  commanded  the  Roman  legions  in  England  under 
the  empire  of  Gratian,  in  A.D.  383.  This  general,  they  say,  re- 
volting, divided  England  into  forty  cantons,  and  in  the  cantons 
distributed  forty  knights,  to  whom  he  gave  a  power  of  assembling 
on  occasion  under  their  several  banners,  as  many  of  the  effective 
men  as  were  found  in  their  respective  districts  ;  whence  they  are 
called  bannerets.  However  this  may  be,  Froissart  says  that 
anciently  such  of  the  military  men  as  were  rich  enough  to  raise 
and  subsist  a  company  of  armed  men,  and  had  a  right  to  do  so 
were  called  bannerets.  Not,  however,  that  these  qualifications 
rendered  them  knights,  but  only  bannerets ;  the  appellation  of 
knights  being  only  added  thereto  because  they  were  simple 
knights  before.  John  Chandos  is  said  to  have  been  made  a 
banneret  by  the  Black  Prince,  and  the  king  of  Castile  at  Najara, 
April  3,  1367. 

Bannerets  in  England  were  second  to  none  but  knights  of  the 
garter.  They  were  reputed  the  next  degree  below  nobility,  and 
were  allowed  to  bear  arms  with  supporters  ;  which  none  else 
could  under  a  baron.  In  France  the  dignity  was  hereditary,  but 
in  England  it  died  with  the  person  that  gained  it.  The  order 
dwindled  after  the  institution  of  baronets,  or  hereditary  knight- 
hood by  King  James  I,  in  1611,  and  at  last  became  extinct  in 
England.1  The  last  person  created  a  banneret^  was  Sir  John 


'The  first  baronet  was  Sir  Nicolas  Bacon,  created  May  22,  1611  ;  baronets  of  Ire- 
land, were  created  1629;  of  Nova  Scotia,  1625;  all  baronets  created  since  the  Irish 
union  1801,  are  of  the  United  Kingdom. 


22  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Smith,  who  received  the  dignity  after  the  Edge  Hill  fight  for  his 
gallantry  in  rescuing  the  standard  of  Charles  I  (Oct.  23,  1642). 
George  III,  however,  revived  it  in  1764,  and  made  Sir  William 
Erskine  a  banneret. 

The  banners  of  the  knights  of  the  garter,  blazoned  with  their 
arms,  hang  over  their  stalls  or  seats  in  Sir  George's  Chapel  at 
Windsor.  Those  of  the  knights  of  the  bath  over  their  stalls 
in  Henry  VIPs  chapel,  Westminster  Abbey.  In  Roman  Catholic 
countries,  banners  form  an  important  feature  in  religious  services, 
processions,  etc.  Before  the  reformation,  all  the  monasteries  in 
England  had  banners  preserved  in  their  wardrobes,  from  which 
they  were  brought,  on  anniversaries,  festivals,  and  on'other  import- 
ant occasions,  and  sometimes  displayed  in  battle.  Edward  I  paid 
eight  and  a  half  pence  per  day  to  one  of  the  priests  of  Beverley 
for  carrying  in  his  army  the  banner  of  St.  John,  and  one  penny 
per  day  while  taking  it  back  to  his  monastery. 

The  union  jack  of  Great  Britain  is  a  religious  banner,  being 
composed  of  the  crosses  of  St.  George,  St.  Andrew,  and  St. 
Patrick.  In  former  times,  the  corporations  had  their  banners, 
and  the  several  trading  companies  —  the  livery  companies  of 
London  —  still  retain  them  for  public  occasions  as  do  the  St. 
Patrick,  St.  Andrew,  and  other  societies  of  the  United  States. 
No  political  procession  or  demonstration,  would  be  considered 
complete  in  the  United  States  without  a  display  of  banners. 
The  study  of  this  subject  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the 
historical  painter,  and  but  few  sources  of  information  are  available. 

Dray  ton,  in  his  Battle  of  Aglncourt,  says  : 

A  silver  town  Dorset's  red  banner  bears, 
The  Cornishmen  two  wrestlers  had  for  theirs. 

All  the  great  nobles  of  England  and  Scotland  carried  banners 
blazoned  with  their  family  arms,  thus  : 

Beauchamp,  had  a  bear  and  ragged  staff. 

Fitzalan,  The  white  horse  of  Arundel. 

Vere,  The  blue  boar. 

Percy,  The  crescent  and  manacle,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

John  of  Dreux,  Earl  of  Richmond,  in  the  reign  of  Edward  I, 
bore  a  banner  charged  with  the  chequey  coat  of  Dreux  surrounded 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  23 

by  a  bordure  of  England  and  a  canton  of  Bretagne.     The  bordure 
of  England  is  described  as  "  a  red  orle  with  yellow  leopards." 
The  banner  of  Simon  de  Montfort,  Earl   of  Leicester,  is  thus 
(see  cut)  simply  represented  on  a  window  in 
the  Cathedral  at  Chartres,  while  on  his  shield 
he  carries  a  lion  rampant.    Banners  and  banner- 
ols were  usually  carried  at  the   funerals  of  the 
great  in  England,  from  the   nth  to  the   i6th 
century.     They  consisted  usually  of  the  ban- 
ners of  the  arms  of  the  individual  and  of  the 
families  to  which  he  was  allied  ;  but  upon  some 
occasions  ecclesiastical  banners  were  displayed. 
De  Montfort's          In  1388,  John    Lord   Montecute,  brother  of 
Banner.  tne  £ari  of  Salisbury,  ordered  in  his  will  that 

no  painting  should  be  placed  about  his  hearse,  excepting  one 
banner  of  the  arms  of  England,  two  charged  with  that  of  Mon- 
tecute and  two  with  the  arms  of  Monthermer.  It  was  custom- 
ary in  the  I4th  century  for  those  who  were  either  descended  from 
or  nearly  connected  by  marriage  to  the  royal  family,  to  use  the 
royal  arms  in  some  way  or  other  in  conjunction  with  their  own. 
Isabel,  Countess  of  Suffolk,  in  1416,  and  the  Earl  of  Huntington, 
in  1380,  forbade  any  banners  to  be  borne  at  their  funerals,  but 
Richard,  Earl  of  Salisbury,  in  1458,  ordered  that  at  his  interment 
"there  be  banners,  standards  and  other  accoutrements  according 
as  was  usual  to  a  person  of  his  degree."  At  the  ceremony  of 
exposing  the  body  of  Richard  II,  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  1400, 
four  banners  were  affixed  to  the  carriage  or  bier  that  supported 
it ;  of  which  two  contained  the  arms  of  St.  George,  and  the  other 
two  the  arms  of  Edward  the  Confessor.  In  1542,  Sir  Gilbert 
Talbot,  of  Grafton,  desired  that  four  banners  should  be  carried 
at  his  funeral,  one  of  the  Trinity,  one  of  the  Annunciation  of 
Our  Lady,  one  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  and  oneof  St.  Anthony ; 
and  Sir  David  Owen,  who  died  the  same  year,  ordered  by  his  will, 
a  dated  1529,  that  his  body  should  be  buried  after  the  degree  of 
banneret,  that  is  with  helmet  and  sword,  his  coat  armor,  his  banner, 
his  standard,  and  his  pendant,  and  set  over  all  a  banner  of  the 
Holy  Trinity,  one  of  Our  Lady,  and  another  of  St.  George,  borne 
after  the  order  of  a  man  of  his  degree  ;  and  that  the  same  should 
be  placed  over  his  tomb  in  the  priory  of  Essebourne. 


24  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

During  the  reigns  of  Edward  VI,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth,  and 
even  later,  care  was  observed  that  the  proper  banners  should  be 
carried  at  the  funerals  of  persons  of  rank. 

The  banderole  or  bannerol,  was  a  small  banner  about  a 
yard  square,  several  of  which  were  carried  at  funerals.  They 
generally  displayed  the  arms  and  the  matches  of  the  deceased's 

ancestors,  especially  of  those  which 
brought  honor  or  estate  into  the 
family.  These  arms  filled  the  entire 
flag,  which  is  on  some  occasions 
fringed  with  the  principla  metal  and 
color  of  the  arms  of  the  deceased. 
The  bannerol  which  was  placed  at 
the  head  of  Cromwell  at  his  mag- 
nificent funeral,  exhibited  his  arms, 
viz:  Sable,  a  lion  rampart  argent; 

Oliver  Cromwell's  Funeral  impaling  Stuart  0r,  on  a  fess  cheeky, 

Bannerol.  argent  and  azure.      An  escutcheon 

argent  debruised  with  a  bend  fretty,  or.  At  the  restoration, 
Cromwell's  body  and  those  of  some  of  his  associates  were  dug 
up,  suspended  on  Tyburn  gallows  for  a  whole  day,  and  then 
buried  under  it.  The  head  of  Cromwell  was  taken  off,  carried 
to  Westminster  Hall  and  fixed  there,  where  it  remained  some  time ; 
but  the  great  tempest  at  the  commencement  of  i8th  century  blew 
it  down,  when  it  was  picked  up  by  the  great-grandfather  of  its 
present  possessor,  a  citizen  of  London  — a  significant  commen- 
tary on  earthly  greatness.  "  The  body  of  Cromwell,  carried  to 
his  burial  in  royal  state,  only  a  few  years  after  his  interment  is 
rudely  torn  from  its  last  resting  place,  and  the  half  decayed  car- 
cass, dragged  by  the  heels  through  the  mud  and  mire  of  London, 
is  hanged  upon  Tyburn  tree,  the  head  afterwards  torn  off  and 
placed  so  that  in  grinning  horror  it  ever  looked  towards  the  spot 
where  King  Charles  was  executed."  z 

The  guydon  or  guidon  Fr.  (derived  from  guide-honores),  resem- 
bled a  banner  in  form  and  emblazonment,  but  was  one-third 
less  in  size,  and  frequently  had  the  end  rounded  off.  It  was 
the  standard  of  a  company  of  soldiers  and  borne  by  their  cornet. 


*  Fait'AoISs  Dictionary  of  Terms  of  Art.      2  Anonytnou 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  25 

"  The  Guydhome  must  be  two  yards  and  a  half,  or  three 
yards  longe,  and  therein  shall  no  armes  be  putt,  but  only  the 
mans  crest,  cognizance  &  devyce,  and  from  that,  from  his  stand- 
ard and  streamer,  a  man  may  flee,  but  not  from  his  banner  or 
pennon  bearinge  his  armes." 

"  Place  under  the  Guidhome  fifty  men,  by  the  conduct  of  an 
Esquire  or  gentleman."1 

Every  guidon  carried  in  chief,  a  cross,  of  St.  George. 
The  PENNON  (Fr).,  was  a  small  banner  or  streamer  half  the 
size  of  the  guidon,  of  a  swallow-tailed  form  attached   to  the 
handle  of  a  spear  or  lance,  such  as  the  lancers  of  the  present  day 
carry.     Afterwards  it  became  by  increase 
in  length  and   breadth   a  military  ensign, 
and  was  charged  with  the  crest  badge,  or 
war  cry  of  the    knight :  his    arms   being 
emblazoned  on  his  banner.     The  pennon 
charged    with    a    cross,  is   borne    by    St. 
George,  St.  Michael,  and  St.  Ursula  :  that 
of  John  the  Baptist  is  simply  inscribed  with 
his    words    announcing    the    coming     of 
Christ :  Ecce   Agnus  Dei.     The   illustra- 
tion represents  a  pennon  of  the  earliest  form,  and  is  copied  from 
one  held  by  the  figure  of  Sir  John  Daubernoun  (1277),  as  repre- 
sented on  his  monumental  brass  in  the  church  of  Stoke  D'Au- 
bernoun,  Surrey. 

A  manuscript,  giving  the  size  of  banners,  etc.,  in  the  I5th  cen- 
tury says,  "  Every  knight  may  have  his  pennon,  if  he  be  chiefe 
captaine  and  in  it  sett  his  armes  ;  and  if  he  be  made  a  Banneret  by 
the  King  or  the  Lieutenant,  shall  make  a  slitte  in  the  end  of  the 
pennon,  and  the  heraldes  shall  raze  it  oute :  and  when  a  knight 
is  made  a  Banneret  the  heralds  shall  bringe  him  to  his  tente, 
and  receive  for  their  fees,  three  pounds,  eleven  shillings  and  four 
pence  for  every  bachelor  knight,  and  the  trumpetter  twenty 
shillings." 

ENSIGN.  Wai.  inslgna,  Spa.  ensena,  Lat.  insigne,  Fre.  en- 
signe,  also  in  English  antient  or  ancient,  applied  both  to  the  flag 


1  Manuscripts,  British  Museum. 

4 


26  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

and  its  bearer.  Edward  the  Black  Prince  commanded  his  "  an- 
cient" bearer,  Sir  Walter  Woodland,  to  march  forward.1  King 
Richard  took  with  him  on  his  crusade  the  standard  and  ensigns 
of  his  kingdom.1  Of  late  years,  the  national  flag  borne  by 
vessels  whether  of  war  or  merchant  ships  have  been  known  as 
ensigns,  and  a  grade  of  junior  officers  have  been  introduced  into 
the  United  States  navy,  who  are  styled  ensigns,  though  their 
duties  do  not  necessarily  have  any  connection  with  the  colors. 
The  French  also  have  a  class  of  officers  in  their  navy  styled 
ensigns  de  vasseaux. 

That  celebrated  piece  of  royal  embroidery,  the  Bayeux  ta- 
pestry, said  to  be  the  handiwork  of  Matilda,  the  consort  of 
William  the  Conqueror,  exhibits  a  complete  display  of  the  military 
ensigns  in  use  at  the  period  of  the  conquest  by  both  the  Norman 
invaders  and  the  Saxon  occupants  of  England.1  The  opposite 
examples  taken  from  it  afford  an  idea  of  the  shape  and  devices  of 
the  ensigns  of  the  military  chieftains  of  the  nth  century. 

The  Bayeux  tapestry  is  nineteen  inches  wide,  and  two  hundred 
and  fourteen  feet  long,  and  is  divided  into  compartments  showing 
the  events  from  Harold's  visit  to  the  Norman  court,  to  his  death 
at  Hastings  ;  it  is  now  preserved  in  the  public  library  at  Bayeux, 
near  Caen,  Normandy.  A  copy  drawn  by  C.  Stothard,  and 
colored  after  the  originals,  was  published  by  the  Society  of  Anti- 
quaries in  1821-3.  It  has  been  recently  announced  that  a  fac 
simile  in  chromo-lithograph,  the  full  size  of  the  original,  is  to  be 
published. 

GONFANONS.  Dr.  Myrick  considers  the  small  pennon  attached 
to  a  lance  in  the  hand  of  William  the  Conqueror  on  his  great 
seal  as  a  gonfanon,  differing  from  a  banner  in  this  respect ;  he  says 
that  instead  of  being  square,  and  fastened  to  a  tronsure  bar,  the 
gonfanon  though  of  the  same  figure  was  fixed  in  a  frame,  made 
to  turn  like  a  modern  ship's  vane,  with  two  or  three  streamers  or 
tails.  The  object  of  the  gonfanon  was  principally  to  render  great 
people  more  conspicuous  to  their  followers,  and  to  terrify  the 
horses  of  their  adversaries,  hence  the  gonfanon  became  a  mark 
of  dignity.  From  the  Bayeux  tapestry  it  would  appear  that  a 
kind  of  standard  was  borne  near  the  person  of  the  commander 


1  Boutcirs  Heraldry.          'Stow.          3  Hakluyt. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES. 


27 


Ensigns  from  the  Bayeux  Tapestry. 


28  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

in  chief,  and  which  is  described  by  the  writer  of  the  period  as  a 
gonfanon.    Wace  says : 

The  barons  had  gonfanons, 

The  knights  had  pennons. 

The  Conqueror's  gonfanon  as  depicted  on  the  Bayeux  tapestry x 
has  three  tails,  and  is  white  within  a  blue  border  charged  with  a 
cross,  or. 

THE  EARLY  USE  OF  ENSIGNS  AND  COLORS  ON  BOARD  SHIPS. 

According  to  Wilkinson  and  Bonomi  there  are  no  flags  de- 
picted upon  either  Egyptian  or  Assyrian  representations  of  vessels  ; 
but  in  lieu  of  a  flag,  certain  devices  are  embroidered  on  the  sail, 
such  as  a  phenix,  flowers,  etc.,  whence  the  sails  bearing  the 
device  was  called  nes  or  ensign. 

The  utility  of  vanes  and  pennons  must  have  been  soon  sug- 
gested, as  a  means  of  ascertaining  the  direction  of  the  wind. 
The  blazoning  them  with  the  arms  of  the  owner,  or  the  name 
of  the  vessel  naturally  followed.  Livy  mentions  that  Scipio  (B.  C. 
202),  was  met  by  a  ship  of  the  Carthaginians  "  garnished  with 

infules,  ribbands  and  white  flags  of  peace, 
and  beset  with  branches  of  olives,  etc. 
A  medal  of  the  time  of  Antiochus  VII, 
king  of  Syria,  B.  C.  123,  shows  a 
galley  without  mast  or  sail  having  a 
swallow-tailed  flag,  not  slung  upon  a 
spreader  but  hoisted  on  an  ensign  staff 
abaft.  The  prophet  Ezekiel,  whose 
prophecies  date  some  600  years  B.C.,  when  metaphorically  com- 
paring the  maritime  city  of  Tyre  to  one  of  the  ships  by  which 
they  carried  on  their  commerce,  speaks  of  her  banner  as  made  of 
fine  linen. 

The  illuminated  copies  of  Froissarfs  Chronicles  in  the  British 
Museum  present  many  curious  illustrations  of  the  manner  of 
carrying  the  flags  at  sea.  Some  of  the  vessels  have  a  man  at 
arms  in  the  top  holding  on  a  staff  the  banner  of  the  nation  to 
which  it  belongs.  One  of  the  illuminations  of  the  time  of  Henry 


1  Retrospective  Review. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  29 

VI;  (1430—61),  represents  a  ship  with  shields  slung  along  her 
topsides,  a  very  ancient  practice,  which  was  continued  by  painting 
the  arms  and  devices  on  the  bulwarks,  and  from  whence  come 
the  figure  heads  and  stern  carvings  of  modern  ships.  In  some 
instances  the  banners  of  ships  were  consecrated.  Baldwin,  Earl 
of  Flanders  (1204),  had  one  of  this  description,  and  William  the 
Conqueror,  when  he  invaded  England  (1066),  hoisted  at  the  mast- 
head of  the  MaraJ  the  ship  that  conveyed  him  to  its  shores,  a 
square  white  banner.  This  banner  was  charged  with  a  gold 
cross  within  a  blue  border,  surmounted  by  another  cross  of  gold 
consecrated  by  Pope  Alexander  II,  expressly  for  the  occasion. 

A  variety  of  colors  were  borne  by  ships  in  the  fourteenth 
century.  Besides  the  national  banner  of  St.  George  and  the 
banner  of  the  king's  army,  which,  after  the  year  1 340,  consisted 
of  three  lions  of  England  quartered  with  the  arms  of  France  — 
azure  semee  of  gold  fleur-de-lys  —  every  ship  had  pennoncels 
with  the  arms  of  St,  George  and  two  streamers  charged  with 
the  image  of  the  saint  after  whom  she  was  called,  but  if  she  had 
not  a  Christian  name,  the  streamers  contained  other  charges. 
About  1346,  one  hundred  and  sixty  pennoncels,  with  the 
arms  of  St.  George,  were  made  for  ships.  The  standards  of  St. 
George  had  sometimes  a  leopard,  /'.  *.,  the  lion  of  England,  in 
chief. 

In  1337,  the  St.  Botolph  and  the  Nicholas  carried  streamers 
with  the  images  of  the  saints  of  those  names.  These  streamers 
were  from  fourteen  to  thirty-two  ells  long,  and  from  three  to 
five  in  breadth.  Before  the  battle  of  Espagnols  sur  Mer,  in  1350, 
two  standards  and  two  streamers  were  issued  to  all  the  king's 
ships,  those  called  after  saints  having  their  effigies.  Some  of 
the  other  streamers  were  peculiar.  That  of  the  Jerusalem 
was  white  and  red,  and  contained  white  dragons,  green  lozenges, 
and  leopards'  heads.  That  of  the  Edward  had  the  king's  arms 
with  an  E,  and  the  streamer  and  banner  of  the  ship  appointed  for 
the  king's  wardrobe,  was  charged-  with  his  arms  and  a  black 
key.  Two  gonfanons  are  stated  to  have  once  been  supplied  to 

1  Her  name,  The  Mira  or  Mora,  is  supposed  to  mean  Mansion.  She  was  presented 
to  the  Conqueror  by  his  Dutchess  Matilda  as  a  parting  gift.  A  picture  of  her  is 
preserved  on  the  Bayeux  tapestry.  Her  sail  is  painted  in  three  stripes,  viz  :  red  or 
brown,  yellow,  and  red.  All  the  ships  of  William's  fleet  were  painted  in  horizontal 
stripes  differently  colored.  The  Mora  was  painted  alternately  brown  and  blue. 


30  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

ships,  probably  to  distinguish  the  vessels  that  bore  them  from 
other  vessels.  Also  a  streamer  charged  with  a  dragon. 

STREAMERS  were  considered  warlike  ensigns,  for  one  of  the 
requisitions  made  to  the  mayor  of  Lynn  on  the  part  of  the 
French  ambassadors  appointed  to  carry  the  treaty  of  Montreuil 
into  effect,  was,  that  the  masters  of  ships  belonging  to  Lynn, 
who  were  going  to  those  ambassadors  in  Hainault,  should  be 
forbidden  to  bear  unusual  streamers,  or  other  signs  of  mortal 
war,  until  commanded  to  do  so  by  the  king,  to  avoid  incurring 
the  dangers  mentioned  in  the  eighth  article  of  a  convention 
agreed  to  before  Pope  Boniface  the  Eighth,  for  settling  some 
disputes  between  the  French  and  the  inhabitants  of  Lynn,  and 
of  other  maritime  towns  of  England  and  Gascony. 

The  banner  of  the  admiral  of  a  fleet  was  hoisted  on  board 
his  ship  ;  and  when  any  eminent  person  was  passenger,  his 
banner  seems  also  To  have  been  displayed.  In  1337,  Sir  John 
Roos,  admiral  of  the  northern  fleet,  was  sent  to  convey  the 
bishop  of  Lincoln  and  the  earls  of  Salisbury  and  Huntingdon,  on 
their  return  to  England  from  a  foreign  mission;  and  the 
Christopher  was  furnished  with  banners  of  the  arms  of  Sir 
John  Roos,  of  the  bishop  of  Lincoln,  and  of  the  earl  of  Salis- 
bury. These  banners  were  one  ell  and  three-quarters  long,  and 
two  cloths  wide.  The  Christopher  also  received  a  banner 
of  the  king's  arms,  and  two  worsted  standards,  which  were  nine 
ells  long  and  three  cloths  wide. 

Besides  streamers  containing  a  representation  of  the  saint 
after  whom  a  ship  was  named,  his  image  seems  to  have  been 
likewise  sent  on  board.  When  Edward  the  Third  embarked  in 
his  cog,  the  Thomas,  in  1 850,  before  the  battle  with  the  Spaniards, 
an  image  of  St.  Thomas  appears  to  have  been  made  for  that 
vessel  ;  and  an  image  of  our  lady  which  had  been  captured  in 
a  ship  at  sea  by  John  de  Ryngeborne,  was  carefully  conveyed 
from  Westminster  to  Eltham,  and  there  delivered  t6  the  king, 
in  February,  1376.  Targets  and  pavises,  or  large  shields,  great 
numbers  of  which  were  placed  on  every  ship,  were  sometimes 
painted  with  the  arms  of  St.  George,  and  at  others  with  an  es- 
cutcheon of  the  king's  arms  within  the  garter.1 


Sir  N.  Harris  Nicolas's  History  of  the  Royal  Navy,  vol.  n. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  31 

On  a  manuscript  relating  the  principal  events  in  the  life  of 
Richard  Beauchamp,  Earl  of  Warwick,  written  by  John  Rous,  a 
chanting  priest  of  Guy's  Cliff,  there  is  a  representation  of  a  ship 

having  amain  and  mizzen  mast 
with  the  sail  braced  up  for  sail- 
ing on  a  wind,  contrary  to  the 
earlier  practice  of  sailing  al- 
ways before  the  wind.  The 
streamer  does  not  fly  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  angle  of  the 
sail ;  but  this  anomaly  by  the 
priestly  artist  may  be  supposed 
to  have  arisen  from  his  desire 
to  make  the  best  display  of 
the  armorial  bearings  on  the  streamer,  which  it  appears  from 
the  following  bill  copied  from  the  original  preserved  in  Dug- 
dale1  s  Warwickshire,  was  made  in  1437,  viz: 

"These  be  the  parcells  that  Will  Seburg,  citizen  and  peyn- 
tour  of  London,  hath  delivered  in  the  month  of  Juyn  (July)  the 
xv  yeer  of  the  reign  of  King  Harry  Sext  (1437)  to  John  Ray, 
taillour  of  the  same  city,  for  the  use  and  stuff  of  my  Lord 
Warwick. 

"Item,  for  a  grete  Stremour  for  the  ship  of  xl  yerds 
lenght,  and  vij.  yerdes  inbrede,  with  a  grete  Bear  and 
Gryfon  holding  a  ragged  staff,  poudrid  full  of  ragged 
staves,  and  for  a  grete  crosse  of  St.  George,  for  the 
lymming  and  portraying  I.  6.  8. 

Item,  for  a  guiton  for  the  shippe,  of  viij.  yerdes  long, 
poudrid  full  of  ragged  staves,  for  the  lymming  and 
workmanship  O.  2.  o. 

"Item,  iij.  Pennons  of  satyn  entreteyned  with 
ragged  staves,  for  the  lymming  full  of  ragged  staves, 
price  the  piece,  ijs,  3.  6.  o." 

The  gryfon  mentioned  in  this  account,  does  not  appear  on 
the  streamer ;  but  probably  it  was  painted  on  the  side  that  is 
not  seen  ;  and  with  this  exception,  the  streamer  of  the  ship  is 
identified  with  that  described  in  the  bill,  and  shows  that  the 
ship  was  equipped  July,  1437.  The  use  of  streamers  was 


32  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

confined  to   ships,  and  still  exists   in  the  narrow   pennant   or 
coach  whip  pennants  of  modern  ships  of  war. 

When  Eustace,  the  monk,  in  1217  put  to  sea  from  Calais  with 
a  fleet  of  eighty  ships  besides  galleys  and  smaller  craft  intending 
to  proceed  up  the  Thames  to  London,  and  was  descried  off  the 
coast  of  England,  a  writer  of  the  time  says,  some  one  exclaimed 
"  Is  there  any  one  among  you  who  is  this  day  ready  to  die  for 
England,"  and  was  answered  by  another  "  Here  am  I."  When 
the  first  speaker  observed,"  Take  with  thee  an  axe  and  when  thou 
seest  us  engaging  the  tyrant's  ship,  climb  up  the  mast,  and  cut 
down  the  banner,  that  the  other  vessels  may  be  dispersed  for  the 
want  of  a  leader."  From  this  we  may  infer  that  the  French 
commander  of  a  fleet  carried  a  distinguishing  banner.  Yet  nothing 
can  be  found  showing  that  the  English  admiral  in  the  reign  of 
Edward  II,  bore  any  distinguishing  ensign  by  day  ;  but  as  the 
admiral  and  his  vice  admiral  certainly  carried  distinguishing  lights 
by  night,  it  is  extremely  probable  that  his  ship  should  have  been 
indicated  by  having  his  banner  at  the  mast  head,  and  which 
agrees  with  the  fact  that  vessels  were  supplied  with  the  banner 
of  the  admiral  who  sailed  in  them.  In  1346,  on  an  expedition 
against  Normandy,  Froissart  says  Edward  took  the  ensign  from 
the  admiral,  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  and  declared  that  he  himself 
would  be  admiral  on  the  voyage,  and  running  ahead,  led  the  fleet. 

On  a  rose  noble  of  Edward  III,  the  king  is  represented  as  stand- 
ing on  a  ship  which  carries  at  its  mast  head  a  pennon  of  St. 
George.1  On  a  rose  noble  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  her  majesty  is 
seated  in  the  ship,  which  is  charged  with  a  Tudorroseand  carries 
at  the  bow  a  banner  bearing  an  initial  letter  —  a  gothic  £. 

In  1520,  Henry  VII,  ordered  built  a  great  ship  such  as  had 
never  been  seen  in  England,  which  was  called  the  Harry  Grace 
deDleu,  or  Great  Harry.  A  drawing  of  her,  preserved  in  the 
Pepsian  collection  at  Cambridge,  England,  shows  her  at  anchor 
profusely  decorated  with  twenty-five  flags  and  standards.  The 
ship  has  four  masts  and  the  high  poop  and  forecastle  of  those 


1  For  a  description  of  this  rose  noble,  see  The  American  Journal  of  Numismatics  for 
Jan.  1872,  also  Entick's  Naval  History,  published  1757.  It  was  coined  to  assert 
King  Edward's  dominion  of  the  sea,  title  to  France,  and  to  commemorate  his 
Naval  victory  over  the  French  fleet  in  13405  the  greatest  that  had  ever  been  obtained 
at  sea  by  the  English,  and  the/r^  wherein  a  king  of  England  had  commanded  in 
person,  wherein  the  French  are  said  to  have  lost  30,000  men. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  33 

times.  Each  of  her  round  tops  at  her  lower  and  topmast's  heads, 
and  the  bowsprit  end  (nine  in  all),  are  furnished  with  a  streamer 
or  standard  bearing  a  cross  of  St.  George  at  the  luff,  with  the  ends 
divided  longitudinally  by  a  red  and  white  stripe,  the  red  in  chief. 
At  three  of  the  mastheads  are  St.  George  ensigns,  and  on  the 
principal  mast  a  flag  or  standard  blazoned  with  the  royal  arms, 
and  having  a  St.  George  cross  in  the  fly.  The  poop,  waist,  and 
forecastle  show  a  line  of  flags  or  banners,  two  of  which  are  St. 
George  flags  with  a  blue  fly  bearing  a  fleur  de  lis,  and  one  bear- 
ing a  rose,  also  two  plain  blue  flags  charged  with  a  fleur  de  lis  and 
rose.  Four  are  striped  horizontally  red  and  white,  and  four  striped 
horizontally  yellow  and  white. 

A  drawing  of  the  same  ship  under  sail  given  by  Allen  exhibits 
a  banner  with  the  royal  arms  at  the  main  masthead,  a  blue  banner 
bearing  a  rose  on  the  mast  next  abaft  it  and  St.  George  flags 
white  with  a  red  cross  at  both  the  fore  and  mizzen  mast-heads.  A 
large  royal  standard  on  the  ensign  staff  at  poop,  and  seven  stream- 
ers or  standards  of  various  colors  and  devices,  scattered  about 
the  rigging. 

An  engraving  prefixed  to  Heywood's  description  of  the  Sove- 
reign of  the  Seas,  built  in  1637  by  Charles  I,  and  which  "was 
just  as  many  tons  burthen  as  the  year  of  our  Lord  in  which  she 
was  built,"  shows  that  famous  ship  with  four  masts.  A  white 
ensign  cantoned  with  a  St.  George's  cross  flies  from  a  staff  on  a 
bowsprit,  and  a  St.  George  flag  or  jack  at  the  fore.  A  banner 
blazoned  with  the  royal  arms  is  at  the  main,  and  the  union  jack  of 
1606  at  the  mast  next  abaft. 

A  better  picture  of  the  same  ship  painted  by  Vanderveldt  ex- 
hibits her  with  only  three  masts,  and  under  sail,  with  a  union 
jack  at  the  bowsprit.  A  banner  bearing  the  royal  arms  and 
supporters  is  on  the  ensign  staff,  and  flags  at  the  fore  and  mizzen 
mastheads,  are  blazoned  with  the  crown  and  royal  cypher  sur- 
rounded by  the  garter  and  mottoes  on  ribbons. 

A  ship  on  the  tapestry  of  the  house  of  lords,  which  has  since 
been  destroyed  by  fire,  exhibited  the  royal  standard  at  the  main, 
swallow  tailed  banners  at  the  fore  and  mizzen,  and  a  St.  George 
ensign. 

In  a  very  old  representation  of  the  fight    with  the  Spanish 
armada  on  the  coast  of  England,  which  has  been   engraved,  all 
the  ships  wear  ensigns,  flags  and  streamers. 
5 


34  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  Venetian  galleys  of  the  I4th  century  carried  blue 
banners  and  ensigns,  blazoned  with  the  winged  lion  and  book 
of  St.  Mark,  or. 

A  manuscript  in  the  British  Museum  of  the  time  of  Henry  VIII,, 
assigning  directions  relative  to  the  size  of  banners,  standards, 
etc.,  says,  "  A  streamer  shall  stand  in  the  toppe  of  a  shippe,  or 
in  the  fore  castle,  and  therein  be  putt  no  armes,  but  in  mans 
conceit  or  device,  and  may  be  of  the  lengthe  of  twenty,  thirty, 
forty  or  sixty  yardes,  and  it  is  slitte  as  well  as  a  guyd  homme  or 
standarde,  and  that  may  a  gentler  man  or  any  other  have  and 
beare."  This  answers  to  the  description  of  the  modern  coach 
ship  pennant  used  to  denote  the  commander  of  a  single  ship  of 
war. 

When  William,  Prince  of  Orange,  sailed  for  England  on  the 
2 1st  Oct.,  1688,  with  five  hundred  sail,  he  carried  the  flag  of 
England,  and  his  own  arms  with  this  motto  :  "  /  will  maintain 
the  Protestant  Religion  and  the  Liberties  of  England." 


SOVEREIGNTY  OF  THE  SEA. —  STRIKING  FLAGS. 

As  early  as  the  reign  of  King  John  (A.  D.  1200-  13),  England 
claimed  the  sovereignty  of  the  narrow  seas,  surrounding  her 
bright  little  isle,  and  it  was  enacted  that  if  any  commanders  of 
the  fleets  should  meet  with  those  of  foreign  nations  at  sea,  the 
masters  of  which  refused  to  strike  to  the  English  flag,  such  ships 
or  vessels,  if  taken,  should  be  deemed  good  and  lawful  prizes, 
though  the  state  to  which  they  belonged  was  at  peace  with 
England.1 

In  the  reign  of  Mary,  1554,  a  Spanish  fleet  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  sail,  having  Philip  their  king  on  board  to  espouse 
Queen  Mary,  fell  in  with  that  of  England  under  the  command 
of  Lord  Wm.  Howard,  lord  high  admiral  in  the  narrow  seas, 
consisting  of  twenty-eight  sail.  Philip  had  the  flag  of  Spain 
flying  at  the  main  topmast  head,  and  would  have  passed  the 
English  fleet  without  paying  the  customary  honors,  had  not  the 
English  admiral  fired  a  shot  at  the  Spanish  admiral,  and  forced 
the  whole  fleet  to  strike  their  colors,  and  lower  their  topsails  as  an 


1  Kent's  Blog.  Nau.j  vol.  i. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  35 

homage  to  the  English  flag  before  he  would  permit  his  squadron 
to  salute  the  Spanish  prince. 

In  the  reign  of  James  I,  in  1604,  a  dispute  having  arisen  be- 
tween the  English  and  Dutch  with  respect  to  the  compliment  of 
the  flag,  a  fleet  was  sent  to  sea  under  the  command  of  Sir  Wm. 
Monson  who  on  his  arrival  in  the  Downs  for  Calais  discovered 
a  squadron  of  Dutch  men  of  war,  whose  admiral,  on  Sir  William 
Monson's  passing  their  squadron,  struck  his  flag  three  times. 
This  English  admiral,  not  satisfied  with  the  compliment,  persisted 
in  his  keeping  it  struck  during  his  cruise  on  the  English  coast. 

Nov.  1625.  Sir  Robert  Mansell  fell  in  with  six  French  men 
of  war  on  the  coast  of  Spain,  and  obliged  their  admiral  to  strike 
his  flag,  and  pay  him  the  usual  compliments. 

In  1629,  tne  various  disputes  constantly  arising  respecting 
the  honor  of  the  flag,  which  the  English  claimed,  induced  the 
famous  Hugo  Grotius  to  write  a  treatise  called  Mare  Liberum,  on 
the  futility  of  the  English  title  to  the  dominion  of  the  sea,  which 
he  considered  was  a  gift  from  God  common  to  all  nations. 

In  1634,  Mr.  Selden  wrote  a  treatise  in  answer,  called  Mare 
Clausem,  in  which  he  asserts  that  Britons  "  have  an  hereditary 
and  uninterrupted  right  to  the  sovereignty  of  their  seas  conveyed 
to  them  from  their  ancestors,  in  trust  for  their  latest  posterity.*' 
A  copy  of  this  book  was  ordered  by  the  king  "  to  be  kept  in  the 
Court  of  Admiralty,  there  to  remain  as  a  just  evidence  of  our 
dominion  of  the  sea."  A  proclamation  was  published  the  same 
year  asserting  the  sovereignty  of  the  sea,  and  to  regulate  the 
manner  of  wearing  the  flag. 

In  1635,  the  combined  fleets  of  France  and  Holland  vaunt- 
ingly  gave  out  that  they  intended  to  assert  their  own  independ- 
ence and  to  dispute  that  prerogative  which  the  English  claimed 
in  the  narrow  seas  ;  but  as  soon  as  they  were  informed  an  English 
fleet  of  forty  ships  was  at  sea,  and  in  search  of  them,  they  quitted 
the  English  coast  and  returned  to  their  own. 

On  the  2Oth  of  Aug.,  1636,  the  Dutch  vice  admiral,  Van  Dorp, 
saluted  the  English  admiral,  the  Earl  of  Northumberland,  by 
lowering  his  topsails,  striking  his  flag,  and  firing  of  guns ;  and  the 
same  year  on  the  earl's  return  to  the  Downs,  he  discovered 
twenty-six  sail  of  Spaniards  bound  to  Dunkirk,  who  upon  his 
approach  paid  him  like  marks  of  respect. 


36  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

On  the  4th  of  April,  1654,  a  peace  was  concluded  between 
England  and  Holland,  by  which  the  Dutch,  in  one  of  their 
articles,  consented  to  acknowledge  the  sovereignty  of  the  sea 
to  the  English. 

"  That  the  ships  of  the  Dutch,  as  well  ships  of  war  as  others, 
meeting  any  of  the  ships  of  war  of  the  English  commonwealth 
in  the  British  seas,  shall  strike  their  flags,  and  lower  their  top- 
sail, in  such  manner  as  hath  ever  been  at  any  time  heretofore 
practiced  under  any  forms  of  government." 

This  appears  to  be  the  first  instance  of  England's  establishing 
her  right  by  a  formal  treaty.1 

In  1673,  an  order  was  issued  to  all  the  commanders  of  his 
majesty's  ships  of  war,  that  in  future  they  were  not  to  require  from 
the  ships  of  war  of  France  the  striking  of  the  flag  or  topsail,  or 
salute ;  neither  were  they  to  give  any  salute  to  those  of  the 
Christian  king.2 

On  the  Qth  Feb.,  1764,  another  treaty  was  made  with  Holland, 
in  which  it  was  stipulated,  that  any  Dutch  ships  of  war  or  others 
meeting  those  of  the  king  of  Great  Britain,  "  in  any  of  the  seas 
from  Cape  Finnisterre  to  the  middle  point  of  the  land  Van 
Staten  in  Norway,  shall  strike  their  topsail  and  lower  their  flag, 
in  the  same  manner,  and  with  the  like  testimony  of  respect,  as 
has  been  usually  paid  at  any  time  or  place  heretofore  by  the 
Dutch  ships,  to  those  of  the  king  or  his  ancestors." 

In  1704,  a  dispute  arose  at  Lisbon  respecting  the  ceremony 
of  the  flag,  in  which  the  English  admiral  Sir  George  Rooke,  the 
king  of  Spain,  and  the  king  of  Portugal,  were  participators.  The 
king  of  Portugal  required  that  on  his  coming  on  board  the  ad- 
miral's ship  in  his  barge  of  state,  and  striking  his  standard,  the 
English  flag  might  be  struck  at  the  same  time  ;  and  that  when 
his  catholic  majesty,  with  himself,  should  go  ofF  from  the  ship, 
his  standard  might  be  hoisted,  and  the  admiral's  flag  continued 
struck  until  they  were  on  shore.  This  proposition  was  made 
from  the  king  of  Portugal  to  the  king  of  Spain.  The  admiral 
replied,  "  that  his  majesty  so  long  as  he  should  be  on  board, 
might  command  the  flag  to  be  struck  when  he  pleased  ;  but  that 
whenever  he  left  the  ship,  he  was  himself  admiral,  and  obliged 

1  Anderson's  Origin  of  Commerce,  vol.  II.          2  Memoirs  Relating  to  the  Navy. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  37 

to  execute  his  commission  by  immediately  hoisting  his  flag."  "So 
the  flag  of  England  was  no  longer  struck  than  the  standard  of 
Portugal."1 

As  late  as  1769,  a  French  frigate  anchored  in  the  Downs, 
without  paying  the  customary  salute,  and  Capt.  John  Hollwell 
of  the  Apollo  frigate  sent  an  officer  on  board  to  demand  it.  The 
French  captain  refused  to  comply  ;  upon  which  Capt.  H.  ordered 
the  Hawke  sloop  of  war  to  fire  two  shots  over  her,  when  he 
thought  proper  to  strike  his  colors  and  salute. 

Falconer's  Dictionary,  published  the  same  year,  giving  the  prin- 
cipal regulations  in  the  royal  navy  with  regard  to  salutes,  says  : 
"  All  foreign  ships  of  war  are  expected  to  take  in  their  flag  and  strike 
their  topsails  in  acknowledgment  of  his  majesty's  sovereignty  in  his 
majesty's  seas,  and,  if  they  refuse,  it  is  enjoined  to  all  flag  officers 
and  commanders  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors  to  compel  them 
thereto,  and  not  suffer  any  dishonor  to  be  done  his  majesty.1 " 
"  And  it  is  to  be  observed  in  his  majesty's  seas  his  majesty's 
ships  are  in  no  wise  to  strike  to  any  ;  and  that  in  other  parts,  no 
ship  is  to  strike  her  flag  or  topsail  to  any  foreigner,  unless  such 
foreign  ship  shall  have  first  struck  or  at  the  same  time  strike  her 
flag  or  topsail  to  his  majesty's  ship." 

Instances  of  former  British  arrrogance  in  claiming  this  sove- 
reignty of  the  narrow  seas,  so  called,  could  be  multiplied. 

The  present  rule  for  ships  of  the  United  States  meeting  the 
flag  ships  of  war  of  other  nations  at  sea,  or  in  foreign  parts,  is  for 
the  United  States  vessel  to  salute  the  foreign  ship  first  if  she  be 
commanded  by  an  officer  his  superior  in  rank,  and  he  receives 
assurance  that  he  will  receive  gun  for  gun  in  return.  The 
national  flag  of  the  vessel  saluted  is  displayed  at  the  fore  and  the 
jib  hoisted  at  the  first  gun  and  hauled  down  at  the  last. 

"  No  vessel  of  the  navy  is  to  lower  her  sails  or  dip  her  colors 
to  another  vessel  of  the  navy  ;  but  should  a  foreign  vessel  or 
merchant  vessel  of  the  United  States  dip  her  colors  or  lower 
her  sails  to  any  vessel  of  the  navy,  the  compliment  shall  be  in- 
stantly returned." 


1  Campbeirs  Lives  of  the  Admirals,  vol.  in.  James's  Naval  History ;  Lediartfs 
ditto ;  Entices  ditto  j  Burchefs  ditto  ;  Harris's  Hist.  Royal  Navy  ;  Scomberg's  Naval  Chro- 
nology, etc. 


38  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


MASONIC  STANDARDS.  —  STANDARD  OF  THE  KNIGHTS 

TEMPLAR. 

MASONIC  STANDARDS.  The  standard  designated  as  the 
principal  or  general  standard  of  symbolic  masonry,  is  described  as 
follows  : 

The  escutcheon  or  shield  on  the  banner  is  divided  into  four 
compartments  or  quarters  by  a  green  cross,  over  which  a  nar- 
rower one  of  the  same  length  of  limb,  and  of  a  yellow  color,  is 
placed,  forming  what  is  called  a  cross  vert,  voided  or ;  each  of 
the  compartments  formed  by  the  limits  of  the  cross  is  occupied 
by  a  different  device.  In  the  first  quarter,  is  placed  a  golden 
lion  in  a  field  of  blue,  to  represent  the  standard  of  the  tribe  of 
Judah  ;  in  the  second,  a  black  ox  on  a  field  of  gold  to  represent 
Ephraim  ;  in  the  third,  a  man  in  a  field  of  gold  to  represent 
Reuben,  and  in  the  fourth,  a  golden  eagle,  on  a  blue  ground  to 
represent  Dan.  Over  all  is  placed  on  a  crest,  an  ark  of  the 
covenant,  and  the  motto  is  "  Holiness  to  the  Lord."  Besides 
this,  there  are  six  other  standards  proper  to  be  borne  in  proces- 
sions, the  material  of  which  must  be  white  bordered  with  a  blue 
fringe,  or  ribbon,  and  on  each  of  which  is  incribed  one  of  the 
following  words :  FAITH,  HOPE,  CHARITY,  WISDOM,  STRENGTH, 
BEAUTY. 

In  the  royal  arch  degree,  as  recognized  in  the  United  States, 
there  are  five  standards  : 

The  royal  arch  captain  carries  a  white  standard  emblematic 
of  purity  of  heart  and  rectitude  of  conduct. 

The  standard  of  the  master  of  the  third  vail  is  scarlet, 
emblematic  of  fervency  and  zeal,  and  is  the  appropriate  color 
of  the  royal  arch  degree. 

The  standard  of  the  master  of  the  second  vail  is  purple 
which  is  emblematic  of  union,  being  a  due  mixture  of  blue  and 
scarlet,  the  appropriate  colors  of  the  symbolic  and  royal  arch 
degrees  ;  and  this  teaches  to  cultivate  the  spirit  of  harmony  and 
love  between  brethren  of  the  symbolic  and  companions  of  the 
sublime  degrees  which  should  ever  distinguish  the  members  of 
a  society  founded  upon  the  principle  of  everlasting  truth  and  uni- 
versal philanthropy. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  39 

The  standard  of  the  master  of  the  first  vail  is  blue,  the 
peculiar  color  of  the  ancient  craft,  or  symbolic  degrees,  which  is 
emblematic  of  universal  friendship  and  benevolence. 

In  the  royal  arch  degrees,  as  practiced  in  the  chapters  of  Eng- 
land, twelve  standards  are  used  illustrating  the  twelve  tribes  of 
Israel,  which  are  as  follows  : 

1  Judah,  scarlet,  a  lion  couchant.  7   Ephraim,  green,  an  ox. 

2  Issachar,  blue,  an  ass.  8  Manasseh,   flesh    color,    a 

3  Zebulon,  purple,  a  ship.  vine  by  the  side  of  a  wall. 

4  Reuben,  red,  a  man.  9  Benjamin,  green,  a  wolf. 

5  Simeon,  yellow,  a  sword.          10  Dan,  green,  an  eagle. 

6  Gad,  white,  a  troop  of  horse-   II   Asher,  purple,  a  cup. 

men.  12  Naphtali,  blue,  a  hind. 

The  banner,  or  grand  standard,  of  masonic  knighthood  is  of 
white  silk,  six  feet  in  height,  and  five  feet  in  width,  made  tripar- 
tite at  the  bottom,  fastened  at  the  top,  to  the  cross  bar  by  nine 
rings.  In  the  centre  of  the  standard,  a  blood  red  passion  cross 
edged  with  gold  over  which  is  the  motto  "  In  hoc  signo  vinces  "  and 
under  u  Non  nobis  Domini,  non  nobis  sed  nomini  tuo  da  Gloriam  /" 
The  cross  is  four  feet  long,  and  both  upright,  and  is  seven 
inches  wide.  On  the  top  of  the  staffis  a  gilded  ball  or  globe  four 
inches  in  diameter  surmounted  by  a  patriarchal  cross  twelve 
inches  in  height. 

The  grand  standard  of  the  ancient  and  accepted  Scottish  rite 
is  of  silk  three  and  a  half  feet  long  by  two  and  a  half  wide, 
edged  with  gold,  gold  fringe  and  tassels.  ^ In  the  centre  a  double 
headed  eagle  under  which  on  a  blue  scroll  the  motto  u  DEUS 
MEUMQUE  Jus."  In  the  upper  part  of  a  triangle  irradiated  over 
the  crowned  heads  of  the  eagle,  are  the  figures  33  in  the  centre.1 

KNIGHTS  TEMPLAR  originated  in  the  piety  of  nine  French 
knights,  who  in  1118  followed  Godfrey  de  Bouillon  to  the  Cru- 
sades. They  were  suppressed  March  22,  1312. 

St.  Bernard  thus  described  the  Knights  Templar  in  their  early 
days  :  "They  lived  without  anything  they  could  call  their  own. 


1  Mac  ay's  Cyclopedia  of  Masonry. 


40 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


Not  even  their  fair  will  :  they  are  generally  simply  dressed, 
and  covered  with  dust,  their  faces  embrowned  with  the  burning 
sun,  and  a  fixed,  severe  expression.  On  the  eve  of  battle,  they 
arm  themselves  with  faith  within  and  steel  without  ;  these  are 
their  only  decoration,  and  they  use  them  with  valor,  in  the 
greatest  perils  fearing  neither  the  number  nor  the  strength  of  the 
barbarians.  Their  whole  confidence  is  placed  in  the  God  of 
armies,  and  fighting  for  his  cause  they  seek  death.  Oh,  happy 
way  of  life,  in  which  they  can  await  death  without  fear,  desire 
it  with  joy,  and  receive  it  with  assurance!"  The  oath  they 
took  on  their  entrance,  was  found  in  the  archives  of  the  Abbey 
of  Accobaga,  in  Aragon  ;  it  is  as  follows  : 

"  I  swear  to  consecrate  my  words,  my  arms,  my  strength  and 
my  life  to  the  defense  of  the  mysteries  of  the  faith  ;  and  that  of 
the  unity  of  God.  I  also  promise  to  be  submissive  and  obe- 
dient to  the  grand  master  of  the  order.  Whenever  it  is  needful 
I  will  cross  seas  to  fight.  I  will  give  help  against  all  infidel 
kings  and  princes  ;  and  in  the  presence  of  three  enemies,  I  will 
not  fly,  but  fight,  if  they  are  infidels." 

The  Knights  Templar,  instituted  A.  D.  1118  by  Baldwin 
II,  of  Jerusalem,  carried  at  their  head  their  celebrated  standard, 

called  the  beauceant  or 
scant,  which  bore  the 
motto  :  u  Non  nobis 
Domine,  non  nobis  sed 
nominl  tuo  da  glorlam  ;" 
and  after  this  they 
marched  to  battle  recit- 
ing prayers,  having  first 
received  the  holy  sacra- 
ment. It  was  in  1 237, 
that  the  knight  who 
carried  the  beauceant 
in  an  action  when  the 
Mussulmans  had  the 
advantage,  held  it  raised 


IIIIH 


Knights  Templar  Standards. 


above  his  head  until  his  conquerors,  with  redoubled  blows,  had 
pierced  his  whole  body  and  cut  off  both  his  hands. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  41 

The  beauceant  was  of  woolen  or  silk  stuff  six  feet  in  height 
and  five  feet  in  width,  and  tripartite  at  the  bottom,  fastened  at  the 
top  to  the  cross  bar  by  nine  rings.  The  upper  half  of  the  stand- 
ard is  black,  and  the  lower  half  white.  The  illustration  of  this 
standard  is  as  it  is  represented  in  the  Temple  church  at  London. 
They  also  displayed  above  their  formidable  lance,  a  second 
banner  of  their  own  colors,  white,  charged 
with  the  cross  of  the  order  of  eight  points. 
In  1309,  the  Knights  Templar  were 
suppressed,  and  by  a  papal  bull,  dated  April 
3,  1312,  their  order  was  abolished.  Num- 
bers of  the  order  were  tried,  condemned 
and  burnt  alive  or  hanged  1308—10,  and 
it  suffered  great  persecutions  throughout 
Europe  :  eighty-eight  were  burnt  at  Paris, 
1310.  The  grand  master  De  Molaywas 
burnt  alive  at  Paris,  March,  1314. 

The  banner  of  the  Hospitallers  of  St. 
John  of  Jerusalem  was  charged  with    a 

Hospitaller's  Standard.          J  ,  ...  ^. 

white  or  silver  cross  or  eight  points.     1  hey 

were  also  called  Knights  of  St.  John  and  Knights  of  Rhodes,  and 
finally  Knights  of  Malta.  The  order  was  founded  about  1099 
and  confirmed  by  the  pope,  1113.  The  Emperor  Paul  of 
Russia,  declared  himself  grand  master  of  the  order,  June,  1799, 
and  the  Czar  of  Russia  has  continued  to  be  the  grand  master 
and  patron  of  the  order  to  the  present  time. 


ANCIENT  MILITARY  STANDARDS.  THE  EGYPTIAN,  GRE- 
CIAN, HEBREW,  ASSYRIAN,  PERSIAN  STANDARDS. 

OF  STANDARDS. 

The  ancient  military  standards  consisted  of  a  symbol  carried 
on  a  pole.  In  more  modern  times  they  were  the  largest  and 
most  important  flags  borne.  Fixed  on  the  tops  of  towers  or 
elevated  places,  or  on  platforms,  and  always  the  rallying  point  in 
battle,  they  obtained  the  name  of  standards  from  being  stationary. 
Ducange  derives  the  name  from  standarum  or  stantarum,  stan- 
dardum,  standate,  used  in  corrupt  Latin  to  signify  the  principal 
flag  in  an  army.  Menage  derives  it  from  the  German  stander^  or 
English  stand. 

9 


42 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


The  EGYPTIANS,  according  to  Diodorus,  carried  an  animal  at 
the  end  of  a  spear  as  their  standard.     Sir  G.  Wilkinson  in  his 


Egyptian  Standards,  from  Wilkinson. 

work  on  the   ancient  Egyptians,  speaking  of  their  armies  says 

(i,  294),  "Each  battalion  and  indeed  each  company  had  its 

particular  standard  which  represented 
a  sacred  subject,  a  king's  name,  a 
sacred  boat,  an  animal  or  some  em- 
blematical device."  Among  the 
Egyptian  sculptures  and  paintings 
there  also  appear  standards  which 
either  resemble  at  top  a  rounded 
headed  table-knife,  or  an  expanded 
semi-circular  fan.  Another  of  their 
ancient  standards  wasan  eagle  stripped 
of  its  feathers  —  the  emblem  of  the 
Nile.  The  illustration  represents  a 

group  of  Egyptian  standards  as  they  were  used  in  the  army  in 

the  time  of  Pharaoh.1 


Standards  of  Pharaoh. 


Ten  Thousand  Wonderful  Things. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  43 

The  GREEKS  set  up  a  piece  of  armor  at  the  end  of  a  spear 
as  a  rallying  signal,  though  Homer  makes  Agamemnon  after- 
wards use  a  purple  vail  with  which  to  rally  his  men.  The  Athe- 
nians bore  an  owl,  the  emblem  of  Minerva,  and  the  olive  fora 
standard.  Other  nations  the  effigies  of  their  tutelary  gods,  or 
their  particular  symbols  at  the  end  of  a  spear.  Thus  :  the  Co- 
rinthians bore  a  winged  horse  or  Pegasus  on  theirs.  The  Mes- 
senians,  the  letter  M.  The  Lacedemonians  the  letter  /,,  in 
Greek  A.  Alexander,  called  the  Great,  when  he  began  to 
claim  for  himself  a  divine  origin,  caused  a  standard  to  be  pre- 
pared, inscribed  with  the  title  of  Son  of  Ammon,  and  planted  it 
near  the  image  of  Hercules,  which  as  that  of  his  tutelary  deity 
was  the  ensign  of  the  Grecian  host. 

The  HEBREWS  in  the  time  of  Moses  had  their  emblems. 
We  find  in  the  second  of  Numbers,  1491  B.C.,  ist  chap.,  52d 
verse,  the  children  of  Israel  directed  to  u  pitch  their  tents  every 
man  by  his  own  camp,  and  every  man  by  his  own  standard 
throughout  the  hosts,"  and  2d  chapter  2d  verse,  every  man  was 
"  to  pitch  by  his  own  standard  of  their  father's  house  far  off  about 
the  tabernacle." 

In  the  wilderness,  says  Adam  Clarke,  they  were  marshalled 
according  to  their  tribes,  each  tribe  being  subdivided  into  families. 
Every  head  of  a  subdivision  or  thousand  was  furnished  with  an 
ensign  or  standard  under  which  his  followers  arranged  themselves 
according  to  a  preconcerted  plan,  both  when  in  camp  and  when 
on  the  march  ;  and  thus  all  confusion  was  prevented  how  hastily 
soever  the  order  might  be  given  to  proceed  or  halt  and  pitch 
their  tents.  The  four  leading  divisions,  viz  :  Reuben,  Ephraim, 
Judah  and  Dan,  were  designated  by  the  component  parts  of  the 
cherubim  and  seraphim,  a  man,  an  ox,  a  lion,  and  an  eagle. 
According  to  the  Talmudists,  the  standard  of  Judah  had  on 
it  a  lion  painted  with  this  inscription  u  Rise,  Lord,  let  thine  ene- 
mies be  dispersed,  and  let  those  that  hate  theeflee  before  thee."  They 
gave  to  Iscachar,  an  ass  ;  to  Zebulon,  a  ship  ;  to  Reuben,  a  river 
and  sometimes  the  figure  of  a  man  ;  to  Simeon,  a  sword  ;  to  Gad, 
a  lion  ;  to  Manasseh,  an  ox  ;  to  Benjamin,  a -wolf ;  to  Dan,  a 
serpent  or  an  eagle.  The  ensign  of  Asher  was  a  handful  of 
corn,  and  that  of  Naphtali  a  stag. 


'Seepages  38,  39. 


44  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Allusions  to  standards,  banners,  and  ensigns  are  frequent  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures.  The  post  of  standard  bearer  was  at  all  times 
of  the  greatest  importance,  and  none  but  officers  of  approved 
valor  were  ever  chosen  for  such  service  ;  hence  Jehovah,  de- 
scribing the  ruin  and  discomfiture  which  he  was  about  to  bring 
on  the  haughty  king  of  Assyria,^  says,  "  And  they  shall  be  as 
when  a  standard  bearer  fainteth." 

ASSYRIAN  STANDARDS.  Among  the  sculptures  of  Nineveh, 
which  Layard  brought  to  light,  are  representations  of  the 

standards  of  the  Assyri- 
ans carried  by  charioteers. 
These  sculptures  have  only 
two  devices  :  One  of  a 
figure  standing  on  a  bull 
and  drawing  a  bow  ;  the 
other  two  bulls  running  in 
opposite  directions,  sup- 
posed the  symbols  of  peace 
and  war. 

PERSIAN     STANDARDS. 
The  standard    of  ancient 

Assyrian  Standards. 

Persia,  adopted  by  Cyrus, 

according  to  Herodotus,  and  Xenophon,  and  perpetuated,  was 
a  golden  eagle  with  outstretched  wings  painted  on  a  white  flag. 

The  standard  of  Koah,  the  sacred  standard  of  the  Persians, 
was  originally  the  leathern  apron  of  the  blacksmith,  Kairah  or 
Koah,  which  he  reared  as  a  banner  B.  C.  800,  when  he  aroused 
the  people  and  delivered  Persia  from  the  tyranny  of  Sohek  or 
Bivar,  surnamed  Deh-ak  (ten  vices).  It  was  embroidered  with 
gold,  and  enlarged  from  time  to  time  with  costly  silk,  until  it 
was  twenty-two  feet  long,  and  fifteen  broad  ;  and  was  decorated 
with  gems  of  inestimable  value.  With  this  standard  the  fate 
of  the  kingdom  was  believed  by  superstitious  Persians  to  be 
connected. 

This  standard  was  victorious  over  the  Moslems  at  the  battle 
of  El  liser,  or  the  battle  of  the  bridge,  A.  D.  634,  and  was  cap- 
tured by  them  two  years  later  at  the  battle  of  Kadesir,  which  the 
Persians  call,  of  Armath  ;  the  Moslems,  "  The  day  of  succor 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  45 

from  the  timely  arrival  of  reenforcements."  To  the  soldier  who 
captured  it  thirty  thousand  pieces  of  gold  was  paid  by  command 
of  Saad,  and  the  jewels  with  which  it  was  studded  were  put  with 
the  other  booty.  In  this  battle,  which  is  as  famous  among  the 
Arabs  as  Arbela  among  the  Greeks,  thirty  thousand  Persians 
are  said  to  have  fallen,  and  seven  thousand  Moslems.1  Thus 
after  1434  years  service  this  standard  was  destroyed. 

THE  ROMAN  STANDARDS. 

Each  legion  of  the  Roman  army  was  divided  into  ten  cohorts, 
each  cohort  into  three  maniples,  each  maniple  into  two  centurions, 
which  would  give  sixty  centurions  to  a  legion,  the  regular  force 
of  which  was  therefore  6,000  ;  but  sometimes  the  number  of  men 
in  a  legion  varied,  and  in  the  time  of  Polybius,  a  legion  had  but 
four  thousand  two  hundred. 

When  the  army  came  near  a  place  of  encampment,  some  of  the 
tribunes  and  centurions,  with  proper  persons  appointed  for  that 
service,  were  sent  to  mark  out  the  ground,  and  assigned  to  each 
his  proper  quarters  which  they  did  by  erecting  flags  (vexillas)  of 
different  colors.  The  place  for  the  general's  tent  was  marked 
with  a  white  flag. 

Each  century,  or  at  least  each  maniple,  had  its  proper  standard 
and  standard  bearer.  The  standard  of  a  manipulus  in  the  time  of 
Romulus  was  a  bundle  of  hay  tied  to  a  pole.  Afterwards  a  spear  with 
a  cross  piece  of  wood  on  the  top,  sometimes  the  figure  of  a  hand 
above,  probably  in  allusion  to  the  word  manipulus^  and  below 
a  small  round  or  oval  shield  on  which  were  represented  the  images 
of  warlike  deities,  as  Mars  or  Minerva,  and  in  later  times  of  the 
emperors  or  of  their  favorites.  Hence  the  standards  were 
called  numeria  legwnum  and  worshiped  with  religious  adoration. 
There  were  also  standards  of  the  cohorts.  The  standards  of 
the  different  divisions  of  the  army  had  certain  letters  inscribed  on 
them,  to  distinguish  the  one  from  the  other.  The  standard  of 
the  cavalry  was  called  vexillum  (a  flag  or  banner)  from  being  a 
square  piece  of  cloth  fixed  on  the  end  of  a  spear,  and  Caesar 
mentions  it  as  used  by  the  foot  particularly  by  the  veterans  who 


JIrving's  Successors  of  Mahomet. 


46  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

had  served  out  their  time  ;  but  under  the  emperors  were  still 
retained  in  the  army,  and  fought  in  bodies  distinct  from  the 
legion  and  under  a  particular  standard  of  their  own.  Hence 
these  veterans  were  called  vexillarii. 

To  lose  the  standard  was  always  disgraceful,  particularly  to 
the  standard  bearer,  and  was  at  times  a  capital  crime.  To  ani- 
mate the  soldiers  their  standards  were  sometimes  thrown  among 
the  enemy.  After  a  time  a  horse,  a 
bear,  and  other  animals,  were  substituted 
for  the  bundle  of  hay,  open  hand,  etc. 
In  the  second  year  of  the  consulate  of 
Marius,  87  B.C.,  a  silver  eagle,  with 
expanded  wings,  on  the  top  of  a  spear 
with  the  thunderbolt  in  its  claws  the 
emblem  of  Jove,  signifying  might  and 
power,  with  the  figure  of  a  small  chapel 
above  it,  was  assumed  as  the  common 

Roman  Standard.  standard  of   the    legion?    hence    aqu'lta    js 

Bronxe  horse  one  half  tbt  six*         r  r        i        •  »T»I  i  r  i  • 

of  the  original  preserved         OltCn    put    for   leglOn.  1  flC    plaCC   for   thlS 

at  Goodrich  Court.  ,        ,  ,.  -r 

standard  was  near  the  ordinary  place  or 

the  general,  in  the  centre  of  the  army.  When  a  general  after 
having  consulted  the  auspices,  had  determined  to  lead  forth  his 
troops  against  the  enemy,  a  red  flag  was  displayed  on  a  spear  from 
the  top  of  the  prtetorium  as  a  signal  to  prepare  for  battle.  The 
standard  of  Augustus  was  a  globe  to  indicate  his  conquest  of  the 
globe.  Roman  standards  were  also  ornamented  with  dragons 
and  silver  bells  as  a  trophy,  after  Trajan's  conquest  of  the 
Dacians,  A.D.  106,  as  shown  on  Trajan's  column.  From  the 
Roman  standard  is  derived  the  numerous  brood  of  white,  black, 
and  red  eagles  with  single  or  double  heads  which  are  borne  on 
so  many  of  the  standards  of  modern  Europe.  The  countries 
they  represent  claim  to  be  fragments  or  descendants  of  the  great 
Roman  empire.  The  various  changes  of  the  Roman  standard 
marked  the  epoch  of  their  conquests,  first  of  the  Greeks  then  of 
the  barbarians.  The  double  headed  eagle  of  Russia  marks  the 
marriage  of  Ivan  I,  with  a  Grecian  heiress  the  princess  of  the 
Eastern  empire.  That  of  Austria  the  investiture  of  the  emperors 
of  Germany  with  the  title  of  Roman  emperor. 


FLAG  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES. 


47 


The  labarum  or  imperial  standard  of  Constantine  the  Great, 
which  he  caused  to  be  formed  in  commemoration  of  his  vision  of  a 
shining  cross  in  the  heavens  two  miles  long,  is  described   as  a 
long  pike  intersected  by  a  transverse  beam  surmounted  by  a  golden 
crown,  which  enclosed  the  mysterious  monogram,  at  once  ex- 
pressive  of  the  figure  of  the  cross,  and  the   two   initial   letters 
(X  and  P),  of  the  name  of  Christ.     The  purple 
silken  banner,  which  hung  down  from  the  beam 
was  adorned  with  precious  stones,  and  at  first  was 
embroidered  with  the  images  of  Constantine  or  of 
the  reigning  monarch  and  his  children,  but  after- 
wards the  figure  or  emblem  of  Christ  woven  in 
gold  was  substituted,  and  it  bore  the  motto  In  hoc 
'Imperial  Stand  ird  signo   vinces  —  In  this   sign  ^thou  shalt  conquer. 
of  Constantine.   -phe   labarum    is   engraved  on   some  of  the  me- 
dals of  Constantine  with  the  famous  inscription  ElNTOTONIKA. 
The  labarum  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  military  stand- 
ard emblazoned  with  the  cross.     It  was   preserved  for  a  con- 
siderable   time,    and    brought 
forward    at    the    head    of    the 
armies  of  the  emperor  on  import- 
ant    occasions    as    the    palla- 
dium of  the  empire.      With  it 
Constantine  advanced  to  Rome, 
where  he   vanquished   Maxen- 
tius,  27  Oct.,  312. 

The  safety  of  the  labarum 
was  entrusted  to  fifty  guards  of 
approved  valor  and  fidelity. 
Their  station  was  marked  by 
honors  and  emoluments ;  and 
some  fortunate  accidents  soon 
introduced  an  opinion  that  as 
long  as  the  guard  of  the  la- 
Roman  imperial  Standards.  barum  were  engaged  in  the 

execution  of  the  office,  they  were  secure  and  invulnerable  among 
the  darts  of  the  enemy.  In  the  second  civil  war  Licinius  felt 
and  dreaded  the  power  of  this  consecrated  banner,  the  sight  of 
which  in  the  distress  of  battle,  animated  the  soldiers  of  Constantine 


48  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

with  an  invincible  enthusiasm,  and  scattered  terror  and  dismay 
through  the  adverse  legions.  Eusebius  introduces  the  labarum 
before  the  Italian  expedition  of  Constantine  ;  but  his  narrative 
seems  to  indicate  that  it  was  never  shown  at  the  head  of  an 
army  till  Constantine,  above  ten  years  afterward  declared  him- 
self the  enemy  of  Liciniusand  the  deliverer  of  the  church.  The 
Christian  emperors  who  respected  the  example  of  Constantine, 
displayed  in  all  their  military  expeditions  the  standard  of  the  cross  ; 
but  when  the  degenerate  successors  of  Theodosius  had  ceased 
to  appear  at  the  head  of  their  armies,  the  labarum  was  deposited 
as  a  venerable  but  useless  relic  in  the  palace  of  Constantinople. 

The  etymology  of  its  name  has  given  rise  to  many  conflicting 
opinions.  Some  derive  it  from  labar;  others  from  the  Greek 
for  reverence^  others,  from  the  same  to  take,  and  others  for  the 
Greek  for  spoils.  A  writer  in  the  Classical  Journal  makes  la- 
barum to  be  like  S.  P.  Q.  R.,  only  a  combination  of  initials  to 
represent  an  equal  number  of  terms,  and  thus  L.  A.  B.  A.  R. 
V.  M.,  will  stand  for  Legionum  aquila  Byzantium  antiqua  Roma, 
urbe  mntavit.  The  form  of  the  labarum  and  its  monogram  is 
preserved  as  the  medal  of  the  Flavian  family. 

The  hand  appearing  on  the  top  of  the  Roman  standard  was 
probably  an  ancient  symbol  perhaps  of  oriental  or  Phenician 
origin.  It  is  found  as  a  symbol  in  ancient  Mexico. 

Caesar  has  recorded  that  when  he  attempted  to  land  his 
Roman  forces  on  the  shores  of  Great  Britain,  meeting  a  warmer 
reception  than  was  anticipated,  considerable  hesitation  arose 
among  his  troops  ;  but  the  standard  bearer  of  the  Tenth  legion 
with  the  Roman  eagle  in  his  hand,  invoking  the  gods,  plunged 
into  the  waves,  called  on  his  comrades  to  follow  him,  and 
do  their  duty  to  their  general  and  to  the  republic,  and  so  the 
whole  army  made  good  their  landing. 

The  bronze  or  silver  eagle  of  the  Roman  standards  must  have 
been  of  small  size  not  larger  than  the  eagles  on  the  color  poles 
of  modern  ensigns,1  since  a  standard  bearer  under  Julius  Caesar 
is  said  in  circumstances  of  danger,  to  have  wrenched  the  eagle 
from  its  stafF,  and  concealed  it  in  the  folds  of  his  girdle,  and  the 


JThe  cut  of  the  horse  (page  46),  which  is  one-half  the  size  of  the  original,  is  con- 
firmatory of  this. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  49 

bronze  horse  preserved  in  the  collection  at  Goodrich  Court  is 
equally  small.  Another  figure  used  as  a  standard  by  the  Ro- 
mans was  a  ball  supposed  to  have  been  emblematic  of  the  do- 
minion of  Rome  over  the  world. 

STANDARDS,  ETC.,  OF  THE  TURKS  AND  MOSLEMS. 

TURKISH  AND  MOSLEM  STANDARDS.  The  Basarac  or  Sand- 
schaki  sheriff,  or  cheriff,  the  green  standard  which  was  borne  by 
Mahomet,  and  believed  by  his  devout  followers  to  have  been 
brought  down  from  Heaven  by  the  angel  Gabriel  is  preserved 
with  the  greatest  veneration.  It  is  enveloped  in  four  coverings  of 
green  taffeta  enclosed  in  a  case  of  green  cloth,  and  is  carefully 
preserved  in  the  seraglio  in  a  case  built  into  the  wall  on  the 
right  hand  side  as  you  enter  the  chamber  in  which  is  the  grand 
signior's  summer  bed.  The  standard  is  twelve  feet  high  and  the 
golden  ornament,  a  closed  hand,  which  surmounts  it,  holds  a 
copy  of  the  Koran  written  by  the  Calif  Osman  III.  In  times  of 
peace  this  banner  is  guarded  in  the  hall  of  the  Noble  Vestiment 
as  the  dress  which  was  worn  by  the  prophet  is  styled.  In  the 
same  hall  are  preserved  the  sacred  teeth,  the  holy  beard,  the 
sacred  stirrup,  the  sabre  and  the  bow  of  Mahomet.  Every  time 
this  standard  is  displayed,  by  a  custom  which  has  become  law, 
all  who  have  attained  the  age  of  seventeen  who  profess  the 
Mahometan  faith  are  obliged  to  take  up  arms,  those  who  refuse 
being  regarded  as  infidels  unworthy  the  title  of  Mussulmans  or 
True  Believers.  The  unfurling  of  this  standard  is  supposed  to 
ensure  success  to  the  Ottoman  arms,  and  despite  the  many  tar- 
nishes its  honor  has  suffered,  the  Turks  continue  to  rally  around 
it  with  implicit  belief  in  its  sanctity,  and  so  jealously  is  it  watched 
over,  that  none  but  emirs  may  touch  it.  Emirs  are  its  guard, 
and  the  chief  of  the  emirs  is  alone  privileged  to  carry  it. 
Mussulmans  are  alone  permitted  to  see  this  holy  trophy,  which  if 
touched  by  other  hands  would  be  defiled,  and  if  seen  in  other  hands 
profaned.  The  ceremony  of  presenting  the  banner  is  called 
alay,  a  Turkish  word,  signifying  triumph.  The  ceremonies 
consist  of  an  open  air  masquerade.  All  the  trades,  professions 
and  occupations  of  the  inhabitants,  seated  in  gaudy  carriages 
are  paraded  in  front  of  the  assembled  army,  each  trade  per- 
7 


50  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

forming  in  dumb  show  the  mechanical  manipulations  of  its  art : 
The  carpenter  pretends  to  saw  j  the  ploughman  to  drive  his 
oxen ;  the  smith  to  wield  his  hammer,  etc.  After  these  have 
passed,  the  sandschaki  cheriff  is  brought  out  with  great  veneration 
from  the  seraglio,  and  solemnly  carried  along  and  presented  to 
the  army.1  The  blessed  banner  having  been  presented  to  the 
admiring  and  adoring  eyes  of  the  true  believers,  is  carried  back  to 
its  depository,  and  the  troops,  supposed  to  be  inspired  with  confi- 
dence and  victory,  set  forth  on  their  march  to  death  and  glory. 
The  observance  of  this  ceremony  in  the  war  between  Turkey  and 
Russia  in  1768,  was  the  occasion  of  some  frightful  outrages  upon 
the  Christians.  So  long  a  period  had  elapsed  since  the  last 
demonstration,  that  much  of  the  sanctity  of  the  occasion  had  been 
forgotten,  and  the  Christians  expressing  a  wish  to  observe  the 
ceremony  found  the  Turks  ready  and  eager  to  let  windows  and 
housetops  at  high  prices  to  unbelievers  who  accordingly  mustered 
strong  to  gratify  their  curiosity,  on  the  line  of  the  procession. 
A  few  minutes,  however,  before  the  starting  of  the  banner,  an 
emir  appeared  in  the  streets  crying :  "  Let  no  infidel  dare  to  pro- 
fane with  his  presence  the  holy  standard  of  the  prophet,  and  let 
every  Mussulman,  if  he  sees  an  unbeliever,  instantly  make  it 
known  on  pain  of  punishment."  At  this,  a  sudden  madness 
seized  upon  the  people,  and  those  who  had  let  their  premises  to  the 
greatest  advantage  became  the  most  furious  in  their  bigoted  zeal, 
rushing  among  the  amazed  Christians,  and  with  blows  and  furious 
violence  tearing  them  from  their  houses,  and  casting  them  into 
the  streets  among  the  infuriated  soldiery.  No  respect  was  paid 
to  age,  sex,  or  condition.  Women  in  the  last  stages  of  maternity 
were  dragged  about  by  the  hair  and  treated  with  atrocious  out- 
rage. Every  description  of  insult,  barbarity  and  torture  was  in- 
flicted upon  the  unoffending  Christians,  the  usual  gravity  of  the 
Turk  having  on  the  instant  given  way  to  a  fanaticism  more  in 
accordance  with  fiends  than  men.  The  whdle  city  as  one  man 
was  seized  with  the  same  furor  and  if  a  victim  managed  to  escape 
from  one  band  of  miscreants  he  was  certain  to  fall  into  the  hands 
of  others  equally  savage  and  remorseless.2  According  to  another 
account,  this  sacred  standard  of  Mahomet  is  not  green  but  black; 
and  was  instituted  in  direct  contradistinction  to  the  great  white 


1  Dictionary  of  Useful  Knowledge.      2  Baron  Toll's  Memoirs  of  his  oivn  Times. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  51 

banner  of  the  Koraishites,  as  well  as  from  the  appellation 
okab  (black  eagle)  which  the  prophet  bestowed  upon  it.  Ma- 
homet's earliest  standard  was  the  white  cloth  forming  the  turban 
which  he  captured  from  Boreide  ;  but  he  adopted  subsequently 
for  his  distinguishing  banner  the  sable  curtain  which  hung  before 
the  chamber  of  his  wife  Ayesha,  and  it  is  this  standard  which  it 
is  said  is  so  sacredly  preserved  and  so  jealously  guarded  from  infidel 
sight.  It  descended  first  to  the  followers  of  Omar,  at  Damas- 
cus, and  thence  to  the  Abassides,  at  Bagdad  and  Cairo,  from 
whom  it  fell  to  the  share  of  the  bloodhound  Selim  ist,  and  subse- 
quently found  its  way  into  Europe  under  Amurath  3d.  The 
device  upon  it  is  Nasrum  mm  Allah,  the  help  of  God. 

Besides  their  sacred  standard  the  Turks  have  the  sanjak^  which 
is  a  red  banner.  The  alem,  a  broad  standard,  which  instead  of  a 
spear  head  has  in  the  middle  a  silver  plate  of  a  crescent  shape. 
And  the  tugconsisting  of  one,  two,  or  more  horsetails,  the  num- 
ber varying  with  the  rank  of  the  person  who  bears  it.  The 
sultan  having  seven,  and  the  grand  vizier  three,  and  so  on. 

In  the  time  of  Omar  the  General  Mesiera  Ibu  Mesroud  was 
given  a  black  flag  inscribed  "  There  is  no  God  but  God. 
Mahomet  'is  the  Messenger  of  God."  J 

At  the  battle  of  Yermouk,  Abu  Obeidah,  a  Moslem  general, 
erected  for  his  standard  a  yellow  flag  given  him  by  Abu  Beker 
Mahomet's  immediate  successor,  being  the  same  which  Maho- 
met had  displayed  in  the  battle  of  Khaibab.  One  of  Mahomet's 
standards  was  a  black  eagle.2  When  Monwyah  rebelled  against 
Ali,  the  bloody  garment  of  Othman  was  raised  in  the  mosque  at 
Damascus  as  the  standard  of  rebellion. 

The  standard  with  the  star  and  crescent  upon  it  (Plate  n), 
was  first  hoisted  by  Mahomet  II,  after  the  capture  of  Constanti- 
nople, A.  D.  1453.  Prior  to  that  event  the  sign  was  'very 
common  on  the  arms  of  English  knights  and  esquires,  but  fell 
into  disuse  when  it  became  the  device  of  Mahometans.  The 
star  and  crescent  were  selected  by  Mahomet  II  from  their  being 
the  device  of  Diana  Byzantina,  the  patroness  of  Byzantium. 
The  history  of  the  device  belongs  to  the  Grecian,  if  not  the 
more  extensive  sphere  of  the  Aryan  mythology.3 


1  Burkhardt's  Notes  on  the  Bedouins.  a  Irving'!  Successors  of  Mahomet. 

3  Notes  and  Queries,  4th  series,  Vol.  viu,  1870, 


52  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  great  standard  won  by  the  king  of  Poland  from  the 
infidels  in  1683,  at  the  affair  of  Kalemberg,  was  about  eight  feet 
in  breadth  shaped  thus  IE3  and  of  a  green  and  crimson  stuff,  of 
silk  and  gold  tissue  mixed,  bearing  a  device  in  arabesque 
characters  signifying  "  There  is  no  God  but  God,  and  Mahomet 
is  his  Prophet."  The  ball  on  the  top  of  the  staff,  about  the  size 
of  a  man's  joined  fists,  is  of  brass  gilt.  This  standard  was  sent  by 
the  king  of  Poland  to  the  pope  who  caused  it  to  be  suspended  from 
the  roof  of  St.  Peter's  by  the  side  of  another  standard  taken  from 
the  infidels  at  the  battle  of  Ohotzen.  Irving  (Life  of  Mahomet), 
mentions  that  the  General  always  carried  the  standard  into  battle. 

The  pirates  of  Algiers  and  of  the  coast  of  Barbary  are  the  only 
people  who  ever  bore  an  hexagonal  flag  or  standard.  Theirs 
was  a  red  flag,  with  a  Moorish  head  coifed  with  its  turban,  etc., 
designed  as  the  portrait  of  Hali,  the  son-in-law  of  Mahomet,  who 
ordered  his  effigy  expressed  on  the  standards  of  his  followers, 
which  these  Africans  were,  believing  himself  so  formidable  to 
Christians  that  the  bare  sight  of  his  image  would  carry  undoubted 
victory  over  them.  This  device  was  the  more  remarkable 
as  the  Koran  expressly  forbids  the  making  of  any  image  or 
representation  of  any  man,  for  they  who  make  it  will  be  obliged 
at  the  day  of  judgment  to  find  souls  for  them  or  be  them- 
selves damned.  This  superstition  has  been  so  modified  that 
within  the  last  few  years  Muley  Abbas,  the  brother  of  the  em- 
peror of  Morocco,  has  sat  for  his  photograph,  and  the  present 
sultan  has  allowed  his  portrait  to  be  painted  at  the  request  of 
the  foreign  embassadors  to  his  court. 

The  fashion  of  pointed,  or  triangular  flags,  we  are  informed, 
came  from  the  Mahometan  Arabs  or  Saracens,  upon  their 
seizure  of  Spain,  A.  D.  712,  before  which  time  all  the  ensigns 
of  war  were  square  and  stretched  or  extended  on  cross  pieces  of 
wood  or  yards  like  church  banners,  on  which  account  they  were 
called  vexilla. 


SLAVONIC  STANDARDS  AND  ENSIGNS  — DRAGON 
STANDARDS. 

THE  BANNERS  AND  NATIONAL  COLORS  OF  POLAND,  ETC. 
In  our  research  concerning  the  religious  and  military  en- 
signs, standards  and  flags  of  all  nations,  ancient  and  modern,  one 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  53 

family  of  them,    the    Slavonic,    mighty    in    renown  for    great 
achievement,    has    in    a    measure  disappointed  our    exertions. 
Ancient   Greek  writers  knew  them  not  by  .any  name  that  can 
be  positively  brought  home,  and  the  Romans  felt  them  more 
than  they  have  described  them.     It  remains  a  question  whether 
they  were  in  full  or  in  part,  or  at  all  included  in  the  antique  de- 
nomination of  Scythians.     The  surpassing  military  achievements 
of  the  Jazyges,  Dacians,  Sarmatians,  and  many  others  of  the 
Slavonic  race  of  later  date,  we  find  in  the  Roman  bas-reliefs  of 
Roman  triumphs  over  these  barbarians.     The  civilized  sedentary 
nations  have  always  shown  most  anxiety  to  commemorate  vic- 
tories over   enemies   they  could   not    subdue.     The  Egyptian 
victories  of  Thosmes  II  and  III,  or  of  Sesostris  over  nations 
probably  of  Slavonic  stock,  painted  on  the  walls  of  Thebes,  are 
of  this  description.     The  columns  of  Trajan  and  Antonine  show 
imperfectly  the  Slavonic  cavalry,  and  give  representation  of  the 
ensigns  which  those  riding  and  migratory  nations  were  obliged 
to  adopt  for  convenience  of  carrying  on  horseback,  before  the 
stirrup  was  invented.     In  China,  Japan  and  Tartary  to  the  west 
of  ancient  Germany,  dragon-shaped  symbols  all  resolvable  into 
some  sort  of  flag,  were  adopted  for  the  military  ensigns,  from 
the  earliest  age  to  the  present.     In  ancient  times  the  southern 
and  western  nations  had  originally  all  effigy  standards,  consist- 
ing of  statues  or  sculptured  objects  without  cloth  beneath  them, 
or  at  most  a  knotted  shawl  or  cloth.     These  dragon   standards 
consisted  of  a  metal  or  wooden  head,  representing  the  supposed 
figure  of  a  dragon,  with  the  mouth  open,  and  perforated  at  the 
neck,  to  which  a  long  bag  in  the  shape  of  a   serpent  was  fas- 
tened ;  the  lower  jaw  was  also  bored  through  for  the  purpose  of 
receiving  the  point  of  a  spindle   whereon  it  turned   according 
to  the  wind  which  blowing  in  at  the  open  month,  dilated   the 
pendulous  bag,  and  gave  it  the  appearance  of  a  twisting  snake. 
There  were  instances  when  in  the  mouth  tow  and  burning  ma- 
terials were  placed  in  order  to  give  the  dragon  an  appearance 
of  breathing  fire.     Indications  of  this  practice    occur  in  early 
Chinese  works,  and  in  the  Tartar  armies  that    invaded    Eu- 
rope.    In  the  Teutonic  armies  they  are  numerous,  it  appearing 
that  one  dragon  standard  belonged  to  about  every  thousand  men. 
In  a  letter  of  the  Emperor  Marcus  Aurelius,  he  states  his  camp 
is  invested  by  a  German  force  of  seventy-four  dragons,  forming 


54  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

an  army  of  seventy-nine  thousand  men.  Now  when  this  form 
of  ensign  was  adopted  over  so  vast  a  territory,  was  so  long  in  use, 
and  so  multiplied,  it  is  evident  in  order  that  friend  and  foe  might 
descriminate  one  from  another,  that  all  the  minor  differences  of 
form,  color  and  adjunctive  ornament  must  have  been  resorted 
to.  Black,  golden,  and  silver  dragons  were  most  common  in 
the  far  east.  White,  red,  and  green  were  more  general  colors 
among  the  Celtae,  and  the  last  in  particular  was  held  in  high  re- 
spect by  the  Scandinavians,  and  Slavonic  nations  caused  their 
dragons  to  appear  therein,  or  at  last  to  introduce  it  in  stripes,  bands 
or  in  additional  ribbons  and  part  of  their  ensigns.  All  these 
modifications  may  be  traced  on  the  dragon  ensigns  of  the  Sar- 
matians  and  Daci  of  the  Trajan  column  at  Rome. 

As  the  Slavonic  nations  still  numbered  among  them  many 
pagan  tribes  to  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century,  the  solar 
worship  typified  by  Thor,  or  the  bull  god,  originated  effigies  of 
the  bull,  his  head,  skull  or  horns  as  national  ensigns,  others 
adopted  the  skull  or  figure  of  the  horse.  The  Moxian's 
national  ensign  was  a  stuffed  horse  skin.  The  skull  of  a  horse, 
with  the  tail  hung  behind  it,  was  borne  in  the  religious  proces- 
sions of  the  Rugii,  and  was  well  known  in  Sweden  as  an  attribute 
of  Odin.  There  was  a  tribe  in  the  palatinate  of  Bielsk,  which 
had  for  a  standard  a  white  bear  skin.  Another  carried  a  pair  of 
urus  horns.  The  Ostii  the  head  of  a  wild  boar.  The  Jazyges 
carried  horse  tails.  All  these  ensigns  preceded  Christianity  in 
Poland.  When  Ringold  in  1237,  assembled  the  Poles,  Lithua- 
nians, and  Samogitians  to  oppose  the  Tahtan  Bati,  each  tribe 
received  an  ensign  made  for  the  occasion,  most  likely  a  simple 
red  or  black  cloth  secured  like  a  vexillium.  In  Poland  a  simple 
black  flag  or  labarum,  was  early  the  particular  distinction  of 
the  court,  the  palace,  and  the  royal  person,  and  it  may  be  that 
this  color  was  connected  with  the  assertion  of  Andre  Barden, 
that  several  Sarmatian  tribes  "  portaient  dans  leurs  bannierres 
Pimage  de  la  mort."  The  Cossacks  when  they  shook  off  the 
religious  oppression  which  King  Vladislaus  VII,  wanted  to  fix 
upon  them,  had  on  their  ensigns  no  emblazonment,  but  accord- 
ing to  their  ancient  legendary  songs,  only  invocations  and 
imprecations. 

From  the  period  when  serfship  was  introduced  (loth  and 
nth  century),  all  tribal  symbols  disappeared,  or  were  appro- 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  55 

priated  by  the  nobles  who  then  began  to  imitate  the  feudal  in- 
ventions of  western  Europe. 

Stephen  the  Saint,  King  of  the  Magyars,  received  a  white  pa- 
triarchal cross  from  the  pope,  which  was  carried  as  a  standard  on 
the  top  of  a  pole,  and  had  a  guard  purposely  instituted  to  surround 
it.  From  that  time  the  eagles  or  heron's  wings,  the  ancient  ensigns 
of  the  Huns  or  of  the  Onoguro  fell  into  disuse,  or  were  left  to 
adorn  the  lances  of  private  warriors.  Attila  is  said  to  have  carried 
a  hawk  for  his  standard. 

There  was  in  Constantinople  a  monkish  order1  who  wore  a 
green  habit  with  a  scarlet  mantle,  with  a  patriarchal  yellow  or 
blue  cross  on  the  breast.  This  order  spread  westward,  and  possi- 
bly constituted  the  guard  of  St.  Stephen's  cross  in  Hungary. 
When  Hedwega  united  Lithuania  with  Poland  by  her  marriage 
with  the  pagan  Duke  Jagillon  in  the  fourteenth  century,  his 
national  standard  with  mounted  warrior,  in  token  of  his 
conversion  to  Christianity  received  in  addition  this  cross  on 
the  shield  of  the  horseman.  It  remained  however  a  distinct 
banner  in  the  Polish  armies  —  a  double  white  cross  bordered 
with  gold  borne  in  a  blue  field.  There  is  a  doubtful  legend 
that  this  cross  was  placed  in  the  shield  to  commemorate  a  vic- 
tory over  the  Teutonic  knights. 

A  white  eagle  displayed  on  a  red  ground  was  the  cognizance 
of  the  kingdom  of  Poland  as  early  as  the  eleventh  century,  and 
is  most  likely  coeval  with  the  numerous  eagles  of  the  German 
empire  all  originally  single  headed.  Lipsius  gives  a  cut  of  one 
with  two  heads  and  wings  displayed,  as  in  modern  heraldry 
which  he  states  is  copied  from  the  Theodosian  column. 

The  Polish  silver  eagle  on  a  red  ground,  is  probably  of  the 
same  age  as  the  golden  eagle  on  a  red  field,  the  imperial  ensign 
of  the  house  of  Saxony,  and  long  impaled  with  the  gold  and 
sable  bars  traversed  with  a  bend  of  green  rue.  Silesia,  Mora- 
via and  Prussia  assumed  eagles  in  like  manner  differenced  in  their 
structures  or  by  means  of  particular  marks  on  their  breast. 
We  have  no  knowledge  when  the  two  headed  eagle  was  assumed 
by  Russia,  but  the  mounted  horseman  of  the  Muscovites  may  be 
the  original  type  of  the  Lithuanian  ensign.  In  western  Europe  at 


The  Fratres  Constantinopolitani. 


56  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

the  time  of  the  first  crusade,  and  then  also  among  the  Moslems, 
Standards  and  ensigns  were  very  generally  without  charge  or 
symbolic  figures,  unless  it  were  the  cross,  which  whenever  it 
occurs,  is  always  the  imitation  of  the  cross  mark,  standing  for 
the  sign  manual  of  the  person  whose  ensign  it  was.1  Thus  in 
England  the  crosses  on  rough  Saxon  coins,  commonly  called 
sciatta,  are  the  mark  of  the  sign  manual  of  the  sovereign  who 
caused  them  to  be  struck,  and  also  the  cross  which  he  placed 
upon  his  banner,  for  in  several  it  is  represented  in  a  flag  upon 
the  coins  themselves.2 

The  black  ensign  of  the  crown  of  Poland  probably  derived 
from  or  imitated  from  the  Tahtar  standards,  was  no  doubt  older 
than  the  white  eagle,  or  white  cross  on  a  blue  field  of  the  Gonesa 
as  the  latter  banner  was  called.  It  may  have  been  plain  or  marked 
with  a  skeleton  f  image  de  la  mort^  and  later  with  the  cross 
or  sign  manual  of  the  reigning  prince  until  diminishing  in  con- 
sideration, the  St.  Stephen's  patriarchal  cross  became  the  religious 
ensign.  The  arrow,  consecrated  by  the  blood  of  the  martyr  St. 
Sebastian,  which  formed  part  of  the  royal  sceptre  of  Poland,  may 
likewise  have  had  its  symbolical  figures  on  a  banner.  The  name 
of  Gonesa  given  to  the  banner,  which  united  the  devices  of 
Lithuania  and  Poland  we  find  nowhere  explained. 

When  the  white  eagle  and  horseman  became  national,  other 
symbols  were  appropriated  by  the  provinces.  There  is  a  list  of 
the  ensigns  of  the  western  Slavonic  nations  in  the  British  Museum, 
from  which  it  appears  that  each  of  the  armorial  ensigns  of  the  pro- 
vinces was  borne  on  the  breast  of  the  white  eagle,  thus  clearly 
showingthe  allegiance  of  the  provinces  to  the  national  standard. 

In  a  curious  plan  of  the  battle  of  Praga,  near  Warsaw,  A.  D. 
1656,  there  is  in  the  foreground  a  representation  made  by  a 
Swedish  artist  of  the  Polish  standards  surrendered  to  Charles  X, 
nearly  all  of  which  bear  evidence  of  bearing  the  symbols  and  dis- 
tinctions of  the  great  nobles. 

A  national  custom  among  the  Poles  of  bearing  military  signa 
attached  to  the  backs  of  warriors,  deserves  attention,  because  it  is 
of  Mongolic  origin,  and  can  be  traced  even  to  Mexico.  The 
western  Slavonians  appear  to  have  copied  the  custom  from  the 


1  United  Service  Magazine,  Oct.,  1844.          *  United  Service  Journal,  Oct.,  1844. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  57 

Tahtars,  who  often  bore  a  slight  staff  with  a  flag  or  bundle 
of  feathers  secured  by  straps  in  a  scabbard  between  the  shoulders. 
There  exists  copper  plate  etchings  of  these  horsemen.  In  Poland, 
as  late  as  the  reign  of  John  Sobieski,  wings  of  swans  and  eagles 
spread  out  open,  appear  to  have  been  secured  to  the  backs  of 
knights.  A  body  of  gallant  warriors  thus  equipped  figured  in  a 
magnificent  charge,  when  that  hero  relieved  Vienna,  and  a  similar 
contrivance  was  attached  to  each  side  of  the  back  of  the  saddles 
of  several  nobles  at  the  surrender  of  Praga.  This  last  was  in 
part  of  metal  and  produced  in  the  act  of  galloping,  a  crashing 
noise,  designed  to  increase  the  terror  of  horses  opposed  to  them, 
who  had  to  encounter  at  the  same  moment  the  bewildering  flutter 
of  the  small  flags  on  the  lances,  which  are  still  retained,  by 
modern  Uhlans,  Hussars,  Lancers,  etc. 


MEXICAN,   CHINESE,  JAPANESE,  JAVANESE   AND   EAST 
INDIAN  STANDARDS. 

MEXICAN  STANDARDS.  The  ancient  standard  of  Mexico,  or 
rather  of  the  Aztecs,  which  has  been  compared  to  the  Roman 
standard,  was  an  eagle  pouncing  on  an  ocelot  emblazoned  on  a 
rich  mantle  of  feather  work  —  that  of  the  Tlascalans  a  white 
heron,  the  cognizance  of  the  house  of  Xicontencatl.  All  the 
great  chiefs  of  Mexico  in  the  time  of  Cortez  had  their  appro- 
priate devices  and  banners.  The  standards  of  the  Aztecs  were 
carried  in  the  centre  of  the  army.  Those  of  the  Tlascalans  in 
the  rear.  The  Rio  de  Vanderas  (river  of  banners)  was  so  named 
by  Alvarado  from  the  ensigns  displayed  by  the  natives  on  its 
borders.  The  banner  staff  was  attached  to  the  back  of  the  en- 
sign so  that  it  was  impossible  to  be  torn  away.  Prescott,  in  his 
Conquest  of  Mexico,  says  "  the  Tlascalans,  allies  of  Cortez  led 
by  Xicontencatl,  fifty  thousand  strong,  marched  proudly  under 
the  great  national  banner,  emblazoned  with  a  spread  eagle  the 
arms  of  the  republic."  According  to  Clavigero,  it  was  a  golden 
eagle,  but  as  Bernal  Diaz  speaks  of  it  as  white,  it  may  have  been 
a  white  heron  which  belonged  to  the  house  of  the  youthful 
leader.  Elsewhere  Prescott  speaks  of  the  great  standard  of  the 


1  United  Service  Journal,    1844. 
8 


58  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

republic  of  Tlascala,  as  a  golden  eagle  with  outspread  wings  in 
the  fashion  of  a  Roman  signum  richly  ornamented  with 
emeralds  and  silver  work.  Ellis,  in  his  Antiquities  of  Heraldry^ 
after  quoting  Prescott,  says  the  natural  emblem  of  the  Mexi- 
cans was  a  swan.  The  Spanish  historian  Sagahan  relates  that 
about  two  centuries  before  their  conquest  by  the  Spaniards,the  Az- 
tecs or  Mexicans  proper  were  compelled  to  surrender  their  em- 
blematical bird,  the  swan,  to  a  neighboring  kingdom  that  oppressed 
them. 

Our  North  American  Indians  were  found  by  the  early  voya- 
gers and  discoverers  to  carry  as  their  standard,  a  pole  full  fledged 
with  the  wing  feathers  of  the  eagle. 

The  principle  standard  of  Cortez1  at  his  conquest  of  Mexico, 
was  of  black  velvet  embroidered  with  gold  and  emblazoned  with 
a  red  cross  amidst  flames  of  blue  and  white,  with  this  motto  in 
Latin  beneath :  FRIENDS,  LET  us  FOLLOW  THE  CROSS  AND 

UNDER  THIS    SIGN  IF    WE    HAVE    FAITH    WE    SHALL  CONQUER,  a 

legend  which  was  doubtless  suggested  by  that  on  the  labarum  of 
Constantine.2  This  famous  standard  of  the  conqueror  is  still 
preserved  in  the  Hospital  of  Jesus  in  the  city  of  Mexico.  A 
recent  newspaper,3  says  cc  the  banner  of  Cortez,  the  renowned 
conqueror  of  the  Aztecs  is  still  to  be  seen  in  the  principal  palace 
of  Tlascala,  Mexico." 

IMPERIAL  STANDARD  OF  CHINA.  This  standard  is  of  yellow 
silk  ornamented  with  a  dragon.4  [See  Plate  iii.] 

The  viceroy,  as  generalissimo  of  the  Chinese  army,  whenever 
he  is  about  to  start  on  a  warlike  expedition,  must  worship  his  flag. 
Whenever  he  sends  away  any  high  military  officer  with  a  detach- 
ment of  soldiers  as  his  deputy  to  fight  the  enemy,  and  generally 
whenever  any  high  military  officer  is  about  to  proceed  into 
battle,  the  flag  of  his  division  or  brigade  must  be  worshiped. 
The  worship  is  often  performed  on  the  public  parade  ground 
in  the  suburbs  near  the  south  gate  of  the  city.  The  viceroy 
sometimes  chooses  to  sacrifice  to  the  flag  on  his  own 
parade  ground  connected  with  his  gamuns.  The  time  selected 
is  often  about  daylight  or  a  little  later.  Usually,  however, 


1  Bernal Dias  ;  Prescott's  Mexico.  2  Bullock's  Six  Months  in  Mexico.   3  Boston  Jour- 
nal^ Dec.  24,  1869.      4  London  Illustrated  News. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  59 

the  day,  hour  and  minute  are  fixed  by  some  fortune  teller. 
Oftentimes  the  high  officials,  civil  and  military,  connected 
with  the  government,  are  present.  It  is  necessary  that  all 
the  officers  who  are  to  accompany  the  expedition  should  not  only 
witness  the  ceremony,  but  take  part  in  it.  The  same  remark 
is  true  of  the  soldiers  who  are  to  be  sent  away,  or  to  engage 
in  the  fight.  In  the  centre  of  the  arena  is  placed  a  table  having 
upon  it  two  candles,  one  censer,  and  several  cups  of  wine.  The 
candles  are  lighted  at  the  proper  time.  Some  officer  kneeling 
down  holds  the  large  flag,  by  means  of  its  staff  near  the  table. 
The  viceroy  or  the  officer  who  is  to  command  the  expedition, 
standing  before  the  table  and  the  flag,  receives  three  sticks  of 
lighted  incense  from  the  professor  of  the  ceremony,  which  he 
reverently  places  in  the  censer  arranged  between  the  candles. 
He  now  kneels  on  the  ground  and  bows  his  head  three  times. 
Some  of  the  wine  taken  from  the  table  is  handed  him  while  on 
his  knees,  which  he  pours  out  on  the  ground.  Then  a  cup  of 
wine  is  dashed  upon  the  flag,  the  professor  of  ceremony  crying 
out  "  Unfurl  the  flag,  victory  is  obtained  ;  the  cavalry  advancing, 
soon  it  is  perfected."  The  whole  company  of  officers  and 
soldiers  who  had  previously  knelt  down  and  bowed  their  heads 
in  the  prescribed  manner,  now  simultaneously  rise  up  with 
a  shout  and  commence  their  march  at  once,  for  the  scene  of 
action,  or  their  appointed  rendezvous.1 

The  exalted  conception  which  the  Chinese  have  of  the  dra- 
gon has  made  the  word  a  favorite  one  to  symbolize  and  repre- 
sent the  dignity  and  supremacy  of  the  Chinese  emperor.  He 
is  spoken  of  as  seated  on  the  dragon  throne.  To  see  him  is  to 
see  the  dragon's  face.  His  standard  is  the  dragon  standard  and 
his  coat  of  arms  embroidered  on  the  breasts  and  back  of  his  fol- 
lowers is  a  dragon.  This  monster  is  not  regarded  by  the  Chi- 
nese as  a  fabulous  animal,  but  as  a  real  existence. 

In  1854,  the  writer  of  these  memoirs,  then  in  command 
of  the  United  States  chartered  steamer  Queen,  a  little  vessel 
of  137  tons,  mounting  four  iron  4  pounders  and  a  12  pounder 
brass  boat  howitzer,  the  latter  loaned  from  the  U.  S.  ship  Mace- 
donian, participated  in  an  expeditionary  force,  English,  American, 


1  Doolittlis  Social  Life  of  the  Chinese. 


60  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

and  Portuguese  the  whole  guided  by  a  Chinese  admiral's  junk, 
against  the  piratical  strongholds  at  Ty  ho  and  Kulan,  which  resulted 
in  the  complete  destruction  of  the  piratical  fleet  and  batteries.  As 
one  of  the  fruits  of  this  victory  he  forwarded  to  the  navy  de- 
partment at  Washington,  twelve  flags  taken  by  his  force  from 
the  pirate's  junks  and  batteries.  These  are  believed  to  be  the  first 
flags  ever  captured  from  the  Chinese  by  our  arms.  One  of 
these  trophies,  a  large  white  cotton  flag,  was  inscribed  in  bold 
Chinese  characters,  stating  it  was  "  the  flag  of  Lue-ming-suy- 
ming  of  the  Hong-shing-tong  company,  chief  of  the  sea  squad- 
ron," and  "  that  he  takes  from  the  rich  and  not  from  the  poor, 
and  that  his  flag  can  fly  anywhere."  Another  large  triangular 
flag  was  curious  from  having  the  inscriptions  upon  it  written  with 
blood.  These  inscriptions,  as  translated  by  a  learned  Chinese 
teacher,  are  :  No.  I,  across  the  top  corner,  "  The  band  of 
Triads."  No.  2.  Up  and  down  next  the  staff.  "May  the 
Manchoos  be  overthrown  and  the  wings  restored."  No.  3. 
Centre  character.  "  SHOU,"  the  name  of  one  of  the  five  origin- 
ators of  the  Triad  society.  No.  4.  Up  and  down  the  -flag. 
"Let  the  seas  be  like  oil  swept  of  our  foes  "  or  perhaps  "we 
the  Triads  spring  up  in  every  quarter."  No.  5.  On  the  fly  or 
extreme  end  of  the  flag,  is  a  character  which  signifies  "  Victory" 
From  these  inscriptions  it  would  seem  that  this  pirate  was  a 
rebel  from  the  Mandarin  or  Manchoo  authority,  and  a  Triad. 

Rear  Admiral  John  Rodgers  has  recently  (Aug.  31,  1871), 
forwarded  to  the  navy  department  at  Washington,  twenty-one 
standards  and  pennants,  together  with  four  staffs  from  which  the 
colors  have  been  torn,  all  of  which  were  captured  by  the  late 
Naval  Expedition  to  the  Corea.  The  secretary  of  navy 
has  forwarded  them  to  the  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis  to 
be  deposited  there  with  similar  trophies. 

These  banners  present  every  variety  of  color  and  design,  but 
still  indicate  some  method  and  arrangement.  The  flag  of  the 
commanding  general,  and  those  of  the  principal  officer  are  of 
flowered  silk,  and  those  of  the  subordinate  officers,  of  cotton, 
the  latter  closely  woven.  The  staffs  are  nearly  all  alike,  and  from 
six  to  eight  feet  long,  and  shod  at  the  foot  with  iron,  that  they 
may  be  driven  into  the  ground.  The  head  of  each  staff  is 
ornamented  with  carved  wood,  painted  in  brilliant  colors,  and 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  61 

capped  by  a  rim  of  brass.  The  middle  of  each  staff  is  painted 
with  a  series  of  white  and  black  rings,  which  according  to  their 
number  seem  to  indicate  some  rank  or  station.  The  staff  of 
the  flag  representing  superior  officers  is  surmounted  by  a  bunch 
of  pheasant's  feathers,  those  of  a  lesser  rank  by  a  flat  piece  of 
iron  fancifully  cut,  and  others  have  no  mounting.  The  flags 
generally  are  a  square  of  one  color  surrounded  by  a  border  of 
another  color.  A  few  smaller  and  which  appear  to  be  inferior 
flags  have  two  equal  stripes  of  different  colors.  The  interior 
squares  of  the  superior  flags  bear  representations  of  flying  dra- 
gons, flying  serpents,  turtles,  etc.,  printed  in  brilliant  colors  and 
not  badly  drawn.  The  flag  of  the  Corean  commanding  gene- 
ral is  of  fine  yellow  silk,  with  figures  representing  a  tiger  ram- 
pant and  is  surrounded  by  a  border  of  green  silk.  Flag  No.  2, 
is  of  plain  blue  silk  bound  with  black,  with  a  representation  of  a 
flying  turtle.  It  is  badly  torn  by  shell  and  bullets.  No.  3  is 
of  yellow  silk  trimmed  with  brown ;  to  its  centre  are  sewed 
two  card  boards  with  hieroglyphics  covered  with  silk.  No.  4, 
is  similar  to  No.  3,  but  of  plain  light  blue  silk.  No.  5,  is  of 
yellow  silk,  bound  with  pale  red  silk  and  bears  the  representa- 
tion of  a  flying  serpent.  This  flag  is  much  torn  by  bullets. 
The  remaining  flags  are  of  cotton  dyed  in  various  colors.  One 
has  a  Corean  inscription  signifying  it  is  "  The  flag  of  the  squad 
captain  of  the  rear  batallion  of  the  regiment."  Another  has  a 
representation  of  an  officer  on  horseback ;  another  of  a  flying 
serpent,  another  has  a  turtle ;  several  are  blood  stained.  Accom- 
panying the  flags  are  four  pennants  of  silk 
and  cotton  of  various  colors,  printed  with 
curious  devices.  Specimens  of  Corean 
spears,  with  little  flags  attached,  resembling 
a  guidon,  were  also  received  at  the  navy 
department. 

JAPANESE  STANDARDS.  The  imperial 
standard  of  the  Japanese  is  in  their  opinion 
something;  sublime  and  sacred,  and  it  is  only 

Imperial  Standard  of  Japan.  °  '  J 

when  they  are  assured  that  it  will  always  be 

treated  with  respect  that  they  allow  a  drawing  of  it  to  be  made. 

Its  elegant  three  fold  device  symbolizes  several  things.     The 

triple  lobes  represent  Sin-to-ism,  the  religion  of  the  Kamis,  Budd- 


62  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

hism,  and  Confucism.  They  also  symbolize  the  three  annual  and 
three  monthly  festivals :  1st,  the  great  New  Year  which  lasts  a 
month.  2d,  the  feast  of  spring  held  the  third  day  of  the  third 
month,  or  that  of  the  flowers  and  young  maidens ;  and  3d  the 
feast  of  neighbors  t  in  the  "won't  go  home  until  morning"  style. 
The  three  monthly  festivals  are  ist,  the  day  of  the  new  moon, 
2d,  the  day  of  the  full  moon,  3d,  the  eve  of  the  new  moon. 
The  colors  of  the  standard  are  white  and  purple. 

All  the  great  nobles  of  Japan  have  a  device  or  coat  of  arms 
which  is  blazoned  on  their  banners,  and  on  their  tents,  and  worn, 
which  is  on  their  shoulders  and  on  the  backs  of  their  dresses.  The 
naval  flag  recently  adopted  by  the  Japanese  bears  on  the  centre 
of  a  white  field,  a  red  ball  or  globe  supposed  to  represent  the 
sun.  [See  Plate  III.] 

JAVANESE  STANDARDS.  Though  the  natives  of  Java  have 
taken  after  Europeans  in  the  use  of  standards,  yet  their  prince's 
rallying  sign  continues  to  be  the  payong^  or  par-a-sol,  which  is 
the  peculiar  object  of  respect  and  veneration  among  the  Javanese 
bands.  The  tombak  pussaka  or  lances  hallowed  by  age,  which 
they  have  inherited  from  their  ancient  sovereigns,  serve  for  the 
same  purpose  as  the  payongs,  and  are  distinguished  by  the  horse 
tails  which  dangle  from  them.1 

EAST  INDIAN  STANDARDS  AND  ENSIGNS.  The  great  banner 
of  Mewar,2  (whose  prince  was  the  legitimate  heir  of  the  throne 
of  Rama),  first  of  the  thirty-six  royal  tribes,  exhibits  a  golden 
sun  on  a  crimson  field ;  those  of  the  chiefs  bear  a  dagger. 
Amber  displays  the  han-changra  or  five  colored  flag.  The 
lion  rampart  on  an  argent  field  is  extinct  with  the  states  of 
Chanderi.  The  use  of  armorial  bearings  among  the  Rajpoot 
tribes  can  be  traced  anterior  to  the  war  of  Troy.  In  the 
Mahabharet  or  great  war,  B.C.  1200,  we  find  the  hero 
Bheesama  exulting  over  his  trophy,  the  banner  of  Arjoona,  its 
field  adorned  with  the  figure  of  the  Indian  Hanuman  (monkey 
deity).  The  peacock  was  the  favorite  emblem  of  the  Rajpoot 
warriors  ;  it  is  the  bird  sacred  to  their  Mars  (Kamara)  as  it  was 
to  Juno  his  mother  in  the  west.  The  emblem  of  Vishnu  is  the 
eagle.  Chrisna  was  the  founder  of  the  thirty-six  tribes  who  ob- 


Col.   Pfffer's  Sketches  of  Java.      a  Col.  Tod's  Annals  of  Rajahstan. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  63 

tained  the  universal  sovereignty  of  India  and  lived  about  B.C.  1200. 
These  thirty-six  tribes  had  their  respective  emblems,  as  the  ser- 
pent, the  horse,  hare,  etc.  One  of  these  tribes,  the  Saceseni, 
supposed  to  be  the  ancestors  of  the  Saxon  race,  settled  them- 
selves on  the  Araxes  in  Armenia  adjoining  Albania.  These 
migrating  tribes  of  course  carried  with  them  their  respective 
emblems,  and  hence  the  identity  of  European  and  Asiatic  de- 
vices. The  blue  eagle  belongs  to  the  ensign  of  Vishnoo,  the  red 
bull  to  that  of  Siva  and  the  falcon  to  that  of  Rama.  The  en- 
sign of  Brahma  bore  a  white  lion.  The  sun  rising  behind  a 
recumbent  lion  blazed  on  the  ancient  ensign  of  the  Tartars,  and 
the  eagle  of  the  sun  on  that  of  the  Persians.  The  Humza  or 
famous  goose,  one  of  the  incarnations  of  Boodha,  is  yet  the  chief 
emblem  of  the  Burman  banners. 

The  ensigns  of  the  Bijala  reigning  at  Kalyan,  were  the  lion, 
the  bull,  and  the  goose.  The  Tadu  and  the  Silahara  adopted  a 
golden  garuda  (eagle)  on  their  ensigns.  The  Rattas  tribe  J  had 
the  golden  hawk  and  crocodile.  A  hymn  to  Camdeva,  the  god 
of  love,  has  this  line  :  u  Hail  warrior  with  a  fish  on  thy  banner.19 
Sir  William  Jones,  says  Camdeo,  the  Hindoo  God,  is  represented 
attended  by  dancing  girls  or  nymphs,  the  foremost  of  whom 
bears  his  colors,  which  are  a  fish  on  a  red  ground.1 


THE  STANDARDS  AND  FLAGS  OF    EUROPEAN  STATES. 

ITALY,  DENMARK,  SPAIN,  AUSTRIA,  RUSSIA,  BELGIUM, 
GREECE,  HOLLAND,  PORTUGAL,  SWEDEN  AND  NORWAY, 
GERMANY. 

ITALIAN  STANDARDS.  About  A.D.  1040,  the  Italians  at 
Milan  invented  the  famous  carriocium  or  car  standard,  which  was 
introduced  into  France  about  A.D.  uoo.  The  Italians,  however, 
borrowed  the  idea  of  a  car  standard  from  the  Persians  who  in  turn 
borrowed  it  from  the  Egyptians.  The  pompous  and  cumbrous 
apparatus  of  the  Italians  consisted  of  a  standard  or  banner 
royal,  fastened  to  the  top  of  a  mast  or  small  tree  planted  on  a 
scaffold  and  borne  by  a  chariot  which  was  drawn  by  oxen 
covered  with  velvet  housings  decorated  with  the  devices  or 


Journal  Royal  Asiatic  Society. 


64  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

cypher  of  the  prince.  At  the  foot  of  the  mast  was  a  priest  who 
said  mass  early  every  morning.  Ten  knights  kept  guard  on  the 
scaffold  by  day  and  night,  and  as  many  trumpets  at  its  foot  never 
ceased  flourishing  to  animate  the  troops.  This  cumbrous  ma- 
chine continued  in  use  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  years.  Its 
post  was  in  the  centre  of  the  army,  and  the  greatest  feats  of 
daring  were  in  attacks  upon  it,  and  in  its  defence.  No  victory 
was  complete,  and  no  army  reputed  vanquished  until  it  had  lost 
this  standard. 

Alviano,  the  great  champion  of  the  Orsini  family,  when  he 
took  the  city  of  Vitebro,  caused  to  be  embroidered  on  his  standard 
a  unicorn  at  a  fountain  surrounded  by  snakes,  toads,  and  other 
reptiles,  and  stirring  the  water  with  his  horn  before  he  drinks  ; 
motto,  venanapello  —  I  expel  poisons  —  alluding  to  the  property  of 
detecting  poison  assigned  to  the  horn  of  the  unicorn.  This 
standard  was  lost  on  the  fatal  day  of  Vicenza.  Marc  Antonio 
Monte  who  carried  it  being  mortally  wounded,  kept  the  tattered 
remnant  clasped  in  his  arms,  and  never  loosed  his  grasp  until  he 
fell  dead  on  the  field. 

The  Marquis  of  Pescara's  standard  at  the  battle  of  Ravenna 
bore  for  a  device  a  Spartan  shield,  with  a  motto,  the  injunction 
of  the  Spartan  mother  to  her  son  before  the  battle  of  Mantinea, 
out  cum  hoc,  out  in  hoc^ — "either  with  this  or  on  it."  Pescara 
lies  buried  in  the  church  of  Domenico  Maggiore  at  Naples. 
Above  his  tomb  hangs  his  torn  banner,  and  a  plain  short  sword 
said  to  have  been  surrendered  to  him  by  Francis  I,  at  Pavia. 

The  ensign  of  the  Roman  family  of  Colonna  is  a  silver  column 
with  base  and  capital  of  gold  surmounted  by  a  golden  crown, 
the  grant  of  the  emperor  Louis  of  Bavaria  in  acknowledgment 
of  services  rendered  by  Stefano  Colonna  who  when  chief  senator 
of  Rome  crowned  Louis  in  the  Capitol  contrary  to  the  wishes  of 
the  pope. 

THE  MAGIC  STANDARD  OF  DENMARK.  The  banner  of  Den- 
mark taken  from  the  Danes  by  Alfred  the  Great  was  a  famous 
magical  standard.  According  to  Sir  John  Spelman,  it  had  for 
a  device  the  image  of  a  raven  magically  wrought  by  three 
sisters,  Hungar  and  Hubba  on  purpose  for  the  expedition  in  re- 
venge of  their  father  Lodebrock's  murder.  It  was  made,  said 
the  sisters,  in  an  instant,  being  begun  and  finished  in  a  noon  tide. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  65 

The  Danes  believed  it  carried  great  fatality  with  it,  and  there- 
fore it  was  highly  esteemed  by  them.  They  believed  that  when 
carried  in  battle,  towards  good  success  the  raven  would  clap 
his  wings,  or  make  as  if  it  would. 

The  embroidery  of  flags,  as  in  this  instance,  afforded  occupa- 
tion and  amusement  to  the  ladies  of  the  middle  ages,  thence 
their  value  became  enhanced,  and  it  was  considered  highly 
shameful  for  a  knight  not  to  defend  to  the  death  what  his  mis- 
tress's hands  had  wrought.1 

When  Waldemar  II,  of  Denmark,  was  engaged  in  a  great 
battle  with  the  Livonians  in  the  year  A.  D.  1219,  it  is  saidtnat  a 
sacred  banner  fell  from  heaven  into  the  midst  of  the  army,  and 
so  revived  the  courage  of  the  troops  that  they  gained  a  complete 
victory  over  the  Livonians.  In  memory  of  the  event  Wal- 
demar instituted  an  order  of  knighthood,  called  St.  Danne- 
brog  or  the  strength  of  the  Danes,  which  is  still  the  principal 
order  of  knighthood  in  Denmark.  This  legend  or  super- 
stition, seemingly  proved  the  paramount  importance  of  this 
sacred  banner  as  a  means  of  inspiriting  the  men  with  confidence 
and  courage. 

At  the  present  time  the  Danish  ensign  is  red  charged  with  a 
white  cross,  and  the  flag  is  swallow  tailed.  On  the  standard 
the  cross  is  quadrate  and  charged  with  the  royal  achievements, 
the  shield  being  encircled  with  the  collars  of  the  orders  of  the 
Elephant  and  Dannebrog. 

SPANISH  STANDARDS  AND  FLAGS.  The  standard  of  Fernan 
Gonsales,  Count  of  Castile,  in  the  eleventh  century  was  a  mas- 
sive silver  cross  two  ells  in  length,  with  Our  Saviour  sculptured 
upon  it,  and  above  his  head  in  Gothic  letters  "I.  N.  R.  I.;" 
below  was  Adam  awaking  from  the  grave  with  the  words  of 
St.  Paul,  "  Awake,  thou  who  sleepest  and  arise  from  the  tomb, 
for  Christ  shall  give  thee  life."  This  standard  is  said  to  be 
still  preserved  in  a  Spanish  convent. 

When  Vasco  Nunez  de  Balboa,  September  7,  1513,  first 
touched  the  shore  of  the  Pacific  at  a  bay  which  he  named  St. 
Michael,  after  the  saint  on  whose  day  it  was  discovered  ;  the  tide 


1  This  practice  of  embroidering  flags  and  their  being  presented  by  ladies  to  troops  is 
continued  to  our  time,  as  shown  in  numberless  instances  during  our  civil  war.  I  have 
in  my  possession  a  blue  silk  guidon  so  embroidered,  with  the  name  "  Gentilly  Rangers," 
which  was  taken  from  the  ChallametteRegiment, below NewOrleans,  April24, 1862. 

9 


66  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

was  out,  and  so  gradual  was  the  incline  of  the  strand  that  the  water 
was  full  half  a  league  distant.     Nunez  Balboa  seated  himself  under 
a  tree  until  it  should  come  in.     At  last  it  came  dashing  on  to  his 
very  feet  with  great  impetuosity.      He  started  up,  seized  a  banner 
on  which  was  painted  a  virgin  and  child,  and  under  them  the  arms 
of  Castile  and  Leon.     Then  drawing  his  sword  he  advanced  into 
the  sea  until  the  water  was  up  to  his  knees, 
and  waving  the  standard   exclaimed  with  a 
loud  voice  :  "  Long  live  the  high  and  mighty 
monarchs  Don  Fernand  and  Donna  Juanna, 
sovereigns    of   Castile    and    Leon,    and    of 
Aragon  in  whose  name  I  take  real  and  cor- 
poral and    actual  possession  of  these   seas 
islands  coasts   et  cetera  in  all  time  so  long 
as  the  world  endures,  and  until  the  final  day 
of  judgment  to  all  mankind."     His  followers 
having  tasted  the  water  and  found  it  indeed 
salt,  returned  thanks  to   God.     When  the 
ceremonies  were  concluded  Vasco  Nunez 
drew  his  dagger   and   cut  three  crosses  on 
trees  in  the  neighborhood,  in  honor  of  the 
three  persons  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  his  example  was  followed 
by  many  of  his  soldiers. 

Ferdinand  and  Isabella  in  their  Moorish  wars  used  a  mas- 
sive cross  of  silver  presented  to  them  by  Pope  Sixtus  4th, 
as  a  standard,  which  Ferdinand  always  carried  in  his  tent 
during  his  campaigns. 

The  ceremonials  observed  on  the  occupation  of  a  new  con- 
quest, says  Marineo,  were  for  the  royal  alferez  or  ensign  to  raise 
the  standard  of  the  cross,  the  sign  of  our  salvation,  on  the  summit 
of  the  principal  fortress,  when  all  who  beheld  it,  prostrated  them- 
selves on  their  knees  in  silent  worship  of  the  Almighty,  while 
the  priests  chanted  the  glorious  anthem  Te  Deum  Laudamus. 
The  ensign  or  pennon  of  St.  James,  the  chivalric  patron  of 
Spain,  was  then  unfolded,  and  all  invoked  his  blessed  name. 
Lastly  was  displayed  the  standard  of  the  sovereigns  emblazoned 
with  the  royal  arms,  at  which  the  army  shouted  forth  as  if  with 
one  voice,  "Castile,  Castile  ! "  After  these  solemnities  a  bishop 
led  the  way  to  the  principal  mosque,  which,  after  rites  of 
purification,  he  consecrated  to  the  service  of  the  true  faith. 


PL    II 


FLAGS  OF  EUROPEAN    STATES,    1872 


GREAT      BRITAIN. 


II  ||  I         UNION  JACK. 

ROYAL  STAN  MUD  LORD  HlCti  ADMIKAL.  LOUD  LT.  Of  IRELAND.  ADMIRAL  OF  FLifT. 


MAH-OF-WAR. 


NAVAL  RESERVE.  MERCHANTMAN.  \\ADMIKAlOFALL  SMOfS. 


RUSSIA 

mm 


SWEDEN 


MERCHANT. 


MERCHANT 


NORWAY 


GERMANY 


MAN-OF-WAR  MERCHANT 


MAN -OF -WAR  MERCHANT 


DENMARK 


n 


MAH-Of-WAR  MF.KCHANT 


FHANCt 


AUSTRIA 


SPAIN 


MAN-OF-WAR 


MEK  CHANT. 


ITALY 


PQKTUCAL 


BELGIUM 


GREECE 


TURKEY 


L17H.    BOSTON. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  67 

The  flag  of  Pizarro  is  preserved  in  the  Municipal  hall  at 
Carracas,  S.  A.,  enshrined  in  a  glass  case.  It  was  sent  from  Peru 
in  1837.  All  the  silk  and  velvet  are  eaten  off,  but  the  gold  wire 
remains,  with  the  device  of  a  lion  and  the  word  Carlos.  The 
flag  is  about  five  feet  long  and  three  broad,  and  being  folded 
double  in  the  frame,  only  one-half  is  seen.  They  will  not 
allow  it  to  be  taken  out.1 

The  present  royal  standard  of  Spain  bears  the  arms  of  Catha- 
rine of  Aragon  with  those  of  Anjou  in 
pretence  displayed  over  its  whole  area. 
The  ensign  is  yellow,  interposed  between 
two  horizontal  bars  (each  of  them  half  its 
own  depth),  of  red,  and  it  is  charged 
towards  its  dexter  with  the  arms  of  Cas- 
tile and  Leon  impaled  within  a  red  circular 
bordure,  and  ensigned  with  the  Spanish 
crown. 

AUSTRIAN  STANDARDS  AND  FLAGS.  The 
field  of  the  imperial  standard  of  Austria  is 

From  «Ae  map  of  Forth  America  by  l 

yellow,  with  an  indented  border  of  gold 

silver  blue  and  black,  and  it  displays  the  eagle  of  the  empire. 
The  national  flag  is  formed  of  three  equally  wide  horizontal  divi- 
sions, the  central  one  white  and  the  two  others  red  ;  on  the  central 
division  towards  the  dexter  is  a  shield  charged  as  the  flag  itself, 
having  also  the  imperial  cypher  within  a  narrow  golden  border 
ensigned  with  the  imperial  crown.  The  flag  of  the  merchant 
service  omits  the  shield  and  crown. 

The  national  colors  of  Hungary  are  red,  white  and  green, 
arranged  horizontally,  the  green  in  chief,  and  the  red  at  the  base. 
The  imperial  eagle  of  Austria  claims  to  be  the  successor  to  the 
i  ale  of  the  German  emperor,  which  in  its  time  succeeded  to  the 
eat  'e  of  ancient  Rome.  It  continues  to  bear  the  two  heads,  which 
significantly  symbolized  the  eastern  and  western  Roman  empires. 

THE  RUSSIAN  FLAG  has  three  horizontal  divisions,  the  upper- 
most white,  the  central  blue,  and  the  lowermost  red.  The 
naval  fag  is  white  with  a  blue  diagonal  cross ;  and  this  flag  is 
charged  .,in,t^e  dexter  chief  quarter  of  the  larger  flags,  of  red, 
white  and  tflue  for  the  three  squadrons  of  the  Russian  navy. 


All  the  Tear  Round,  1866. 


68 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


The  Czar  of  all  the  Russias  considers  himself  entitled  to  bear 
for  his  standard  the  double  headed  eagle  as  an  imaginary  suc- 
cessor to  the  Roman  Caesars ;  the  two  heads  of  his  eagle  how- 


Royal  Standard  of  Russia. 


Royal  Standard  of  Portugal. 


ever,  might  denote  European  and  Asiatic  Russia,  his  western 
and  eastern  empires. 

THE  BELGIUM  STANDARD  AND  FLAG.  The  standard  is 
black,  yellow,  and  red,  arranged  vertically,  the  red  to  the  fly. 
The  arms  with  the  supporters  and  crown  are  charged  on  the 
central  yellow  division.  The  ensign  is  the  same  without  the 
arms.  (Plate  II). 

GREECE.  The  flag  of  Greece  is  blue  with  a  white  cross,  and 
this  is  cantoned  on  the  ensign,  which  is  white  with  four  blue 
bars  (eight  alternate  stripes  blue  and  white).  (Plate  II). 

STANDARD  AND  FLAG  OF  HOLLAND.  The  flag  is  of  red 
white  and  blue,  horizontally  arranged,  the  red  in  chief  and 
white  in  the  centre.  The  standard  has  the  royal  achievement 
of  arms  charged  upon  the  white.  (Plate  II). 

STANDARD  OF  ITALY.  The  present  standard  of  United 
Italy  is  green,  white  and  red  arranged  vertically,  and  has  the 
arms  ensigned  with  the  crown  on  the  central  white  division. 
The  red  is  to  the  fly.  (Plate  II). 

The  arms  of  the  house  of  Savoy  are  gu,  a  cross  argent; 
within  a  border  componee  and  azure.1 

STANDARD  AND  ENSIGN  OF  PORTUGAL.  The  standard  is 
red,  charged  with  the  arms  and  crown.  The  arms  are  argent, 


Bouteirs  Heraldry,  Historical  and  Popular 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  69 

five  escutcheons  in  cross  azure  each  charged  with  as  many  plates 
in  sattire  ;  the  whole  within  a  border  gu.,  upon  which  seven 
castles  or. 

The  ensign  is  half  pale  blue  and  white,  vertical  and  similarly 
charged,  the  blue  next  the  staff.  (Plate  II). 

STANDARD  AND  FLAGS  OF  SWEDEN  AND  NORWAY.  The 
flag  of  Sweden  is  blue  with  a  yellow  cross,  and  that  of  Norway  is 
red  with  a  blue  cross,  having  a  white  fimbration.  These  two 
flags  are  combined  to  form  a  united  ensign,  after  the  manner  of 
the  union  jack  of  Great  Britain,  and  the  united  flag  is  cantoned 
in  the  national  ensigns.  (Plate  II). 

The  standard  is  also  charged  with  the  royal  arms  crown  and 
supporters.1 

FLAG  OF  THE  EMPIRE  OF  GERMANY.  The  latest  flag  added  to 
the  family  of  nations  is  the  black  red  and  gold  flag  of  the  United 
North  German  empire,  and  which  is  said  to  have  come  from 
the  time  of  Barbarossa.  That  emperor  was  crowned  A.  D.  1152, 
the  ruler  of  Germany,  in  the  Frankfort  Cathedral.  The  way 
from  the  Dom  to  the  Romer  palace  where  the  public  festivities 
were  held,  was  laid  with  a  carpet  representing  the  colors  black, 
red  and  gold.  After  the  coronation  this  carpet  was  given  to  the 
people,  and  everybody  tried  to  cut  ofF  a  piece,  which  was 
then  carried  about  the  city  as  a  flag.  In  the  year  1184,  at  the 
Reichstag  at  Mayence,  these  colors  were  recognized  as  the  true 
German  ones,  and  they  were  retained  until  Napoleon  put  an 
end  to  the  empire  in  1806.  Since  that  time  the  Burschens- 
chaften  have  kept  the  old  colors  in  memory.  In  the  revolu- 
tionary year  1848  the  German  colors  were  again  brought  to 
light  by  the  members  of  the  national  assembly  at  Frankfort. 
There  was  considerable  discussion  at  the  time  as  to  which  color 
had  the  precedence.  Freilgrath  said  :  "Powder  is  black,  blood 
is  red,  and  golden  flickers  the  flame  !  That  is  the  old  imperial 
standard."  Frederick  Wilhelm  II,  however,  was  the  author  of 
the  motto  bearing  the  meaning  of  the  German  standard  — 
"  From  night,  through  blood,  to  light." 

This  flag  supersedes  and  covers  not  only  the  black  eagle  flag 
and  standard  of  Prussia,  but  also  the  flags  of  all  the  lesser  states 


1  Boutcirs  Heraldry ,  Historical  and  Popular. 


70  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

and  principalities  and  free  towns  which  are  united  under  the  new 
German  confederation,  viz:  Hamburg,  Bremen,  Mechlenburg. 
Saxony,  Hanover,  Brunswick,  Oldenburg,  Lubec,  Hesse  Cassel, 
Frankfort,  Baden,  Bavaria,  Nassau,  Hesse  Darmstadt,  and 
Wurtemberg,  etc.,  etc. 


THE  STANDARDS  OF    THE    FRANKS,  AND    GAULS. 
FRENCH  STANDARDS,  BANNERS,  AND  FLAGS. 

THE  STANDARDS  OF  THE  FRANKS,  GAULS,  ETC.  The 
emblems  attributed  to  the  barbarous  hordes  which  rushed  upon 
the  Roman  Colossus,  and  overrun  and  subdued  Gaul,  and  fi- 
nally established  themselves  in  the  place  of  the  aboriginal  inha- 
bitants, are  so  numerous  and  diverse  it  is  difficult  to  determine 
with  precision  the  ensigns  of  each.  To  the  Franks  are  succes- 
sively ascribed,  the  half-moon,  toads,  serpents,  and  the  lion,  and 
this  last  is  the  supposed  parent  of  the  seventeen  Belgic  lions. 
According  to  several  officers,  the  Sicambri,  bore  a  bull's  head  ; 
the  Suevi,  a  bear ;  the  Alani,  a  cat  ;  the  Saxons,  a  horse ;  the 
Cimbri  and  most  of  the  Celts,  a  bull ;  and  the  military  ensigns 
of  the  Goths,  was  a  cock.1 

FRENCH  STANDARDS.  Down  to  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV, 
every  king  of  France  had  his  own  devices  ;  thus,  Charles  IX 
had  pillars  ;  Henry  II,  a  half  moon  ;  Henry  III,  three  crowns  ; 
Henry  IV,  a  Hercules  club  :  Philip  Augustus  chose  a  lion  j 
Louis  VIII,  a  boar ;  St.  Louis,  a  dragon  ;  Philip  the  Bold,  an 
eagle  ;  Charles  the  Fair,  a  leopard ;  John,  swans  ;  Charles  V, 
greyhounds  and  a  dolphin  ;  Charles  VII  and  VIII,  the  winged 
stag ;  Louis  XII,  the  gentlest  of  sovereigns,  a  porcupine ; 
Francis  I,  the  salamander.  The  illustration  of  a  consecrated 
banner  presented  to  Charlemagne  by  the  pope,  is  from  a  Ro- 
man mosaic  in  the  Triclinium  of  San  Giovannis  de  Laterno 
built  under  Charlemagne  by  Pope  Leo,  which  has  been  partially 
destroyed  and  is  very  ill  restored.  The  mosaic  represents  St. 
Peter  presenting  Leo  III,  with  the  insignia  of  the  popedom  and 
giving  the  standard  of  war  to  Charlemagne,  who  is  represented 
as  kneeling.2 


1  United  Service  "Journal.          2  Deodorus's  Christian  Iconography. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


71 


For  many  centuries  it  was  customary  to  choose  for  a  military 
standard,  the  colors  of  a  saint  in  whose  intercession  most  con- 
fidence was  placed.  Often  its  supposed  power  and  sanctity  was 
increased  by  its  being  charged  with  the  custody  of  some  relic  of 
the  saint. 

The  ancient  kings  of  France 
bore  Saint  Martin's  blue  hood  or 
cap  for  their  standard  for  six 
hundred  years.  This  early 
Christian  saint J  the  son  of  heathen 
parents,  was  born  about  A.  D.  316, 
in  Hungary.  Hewaselected  bishop 
of  Tours,  374,  and  died  397  or  400. 
He  was  the  first  saint  to  whom  the 
Roman  church  offered  public  vene- 
ration. St.  Martin's  standard  was 
the  richest  of  all  the  flags  borne  by 
the  ancient  kings  of  France.  It  was 
made  of  taffety,  painted  with  the  image  of  the  saint  and  it  was 
laid  upon  his  tomb  for  one  or  two  days  to  prepare  it  for  use. 

The  St.  Martin  standard  was  succeeded  by  the  famous  auri- 
flamme,  or  oriflamme  of  St.  Dennis,  which  in  turn  gave  place 
to  the  cornette  blanche. 

The  auriflamme,  or  sacred  banner,  of  Clovis,  was  originally 
the  church  banner  of  the  Abbey  of  St.  Dennis,  suspended  over 
the  tomb  of  that  saint,  and  was  presented  by  the  lord  protector 
of  the  convent  whenever  it  was  necessary  to  take  up  arms  for 
the  preservation  of  its  rights  and  possessions.  It  was  a  piece 
of  red  silk  with  flames  of  gold,  worked  in  gold  thread  upon  the 
silk  (hence  its  name),  fixed  on  a  golden  spear,  in  the  form  of  a 


Banner  presented  to  Charlemagne 
by  the  Pope. 


1  The  principal  legend  connected  with  St.  Martin  is  that  he  divided  his  cloak  with 
a  poor  naked  beggar  whom  he  found  perishing  with  cold  at  the  gate  of  Amiens. 
This  cloak  being  miraculously  preserved,  long  formed  one  of  the  holiest  and  most 
valued  relics  of  France ;  when  war  was  declared,  it  was  carried  before  the  French 
monarchs,  as  a  sacred  banner,  and  never  failed  to  assure  a  certain  victory.  The 
oratory  in  which  this  cloak  or  cape  —  in  French  chape  —  was  preserved,  acquired 
in  consequence  the  name  cbapclle,  the  person  entrusted  with  its  care  being  termed 
chapelain ;  and  thus,  according  to  Collin  de  Plancy,  our  English  words  chapel  and 
chaplain  are  derived.  The  canons  of  St.  Martin,  of  Tours,  and  St.  Gratian  had  a 
lawsuit  for  sixty  years  about  a  sleeve  of  this  coat,  each  claiming  it  as  their  property. 
The  Count  Larochefocault  at  last  put  an  end  to  the  proceedings,  by  sacrilegiously 
committing  the  contested  relic  to  the  flames. —  Chambers'*  Book  of  Days. 


72  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

banner,  and  cut  into  five  points,  each  of  which  was  adorned 
with  a  tassel  of -green  silk. 

Guilaume  Guiart  describes  it  as  "  a  ban- 
ner made  of  silk  stronger  than  guimp  of  flaring 
cendal,  and  that   simply  without  any  figure 
upon  it."     At  a  later  date  it  was  powdered 
with  golden  flakes  of  fire.     The  illustration 
represents  Henry  of  Metz  receiving  the  ori- 
flamme  from  the  hands  of  St.   Dennis,  and 
is  derived   from  a   painted   window  in    the 
church  of  Notre  Dame  de  Chatres.     Ac- 
cording to  another  account r  its  color  was 
purple,  azure  and  gold,  the  two  colors  pro- 
The  Auriflamme.      ducing  orange  were  separated  in  the  oriflamme 
but  reunited  in  its  name.     The  oriflamme 
borne  at  Agincourt  was,  according  to  Sir  H.  Nicolas,  an  oblong 
red  flag,   split  into  five  points.     It  sometimes  bore  upon   it  a 
sattire  wavy,  from  the  centre  of  which  golden  rays  diverged. 

The  oriflamme  was  entrusted  by  the  community  of  St.  Dennis 
to  the  kings  of  France  who  were  graciously  pleased  to  rank 
themselves  as  vassals  of  the  abbey  in  their  capacity  of  counts 
of  the  vexin.  Louis  le  Gros  was  the  first  king  who  took  the 
oriflamme  to  battle,  A.  D.  U24.2  It  appeared  for  the  last  time 
at  Agincourt,  A.  D  .1415,3  others  say  Monterey,  A.  D.  1465. 
"The  banner  of  St.  Dennis,"  says  a  recent  writer  (1867), 
"  is  stjll  suspended  from  an  eminence  at  the  eastern  extremity 
of  the  venerable  abbey  church  of  St.  Dennis  beyond  the  high 
altar."  4  The  monks  of  old  were  in  the  habit  of  assuring  the 
people  that  this  banner  was  brought  to  the  abbey  by  an  angel, 
about  the  period  of  the  conversion  to  Christianity  of  old  King 
Clovis.  Tradition  assigns  the  age  of  thirteen  hundred  and 
seventy  years  to  this  old  silken  remnant  of  monastic  superstition 
and  imposition. 

The  cornette  blanche,  or  white  banner,  emblematic  of  the 
purity  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  succeeded  the  oriflamme,  and  was 
adopted  in  the  fifteenth  century. 

The  fleur-de-lys,  with  which  it  was  powdered,  are  generally 


1  Fair  holt's  Die.  Terms  of  Art.  2  Renault.  *  Tillet. 

4  It  was  said  to  have  been  destroyed  when  the  tombs  of  the  kings  of  France  were 
desecrated  and  despoiled  at  the  time  of  the  first  French  revolution. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  73 

supposed  to  be  the  flower  of  the  lily.  In  its  origin,  it  may  be  a 
rebus  signifying  the  flower  of  Louis.  Mr.  Planche,  after  stating 
this  supposition,  says  that  Clovis  is  the  Frankish  form  of  the 
modern  Louis,  the  C,  being  dropped  as  in  Clothaire  which  is 
now  written  Lothaire,  etc.  If  Clovis  himself  bore  the  fleur-de- 
lys,  it  may  have  been  assumed  by  him  as  his  rebus  from  his 
favorite  clove-pink  or  gillyflower.  The  fleur-de-lys  was  first 
borne  on  a  royal  seal  by  Louis  VII  of  France,  A.  D.  1 137-1 1 80. 
Edward  III  of  England  quartered  the  French  shield  on  his  great 
seal  A.  D.  1340,  and  the  fleur-de-lys 
were  not  removed  from  the  English 
arms  or  shield  until  iSoi.1 

The  golden  eagle  of  Napoleon  sit- 
ting calmly  vigilant  on  an  azure  field 
surrounded  by  a  swarm  of  golden  bees 
succeeded  the  golden  fleur-de-lys  that 
for  so  many  centuries  were  identified 
withthe  heraldry  and  standards  of  France.2 
The  republic  had  no  standard.  What 

Bstarnda£°yal  wil1  succeed  the  standard  and  arms  of  the 
second  empire  recently  fallen,  and  which 
were  the  same  as  those  of  the  first  empire,  remains  in  futurity. 

The  flag  of  Elba,  presented  by  Napoleon  to  the  National 
Guard  of  Elba,  1 8 14,  and  used  by  him  on  his  return  to  France,  the 
following  year,  is  now  on  exhibition  in  the  collection  of  Madame 
Tassaud  &  Sons,  London.  It  is  composed  of  tricolored  silk, 
and  the  whole  of  the  ornaments  are  elaborately  embroidered  in 
silver.  The  reverse  side  has  exactly  the  same  ornaments  with 
the  inscription  CHAMPS  DE  MAI,  where  it  was  presented 
by  the  emperor  to  his  guards  at  that  celebrated  meeting 
before  they  marched  for  Waterloo,  where  it  was  taken  by 
the  Prussians,  and  sold  by  them  to  an  English  gentleman  who 
brought  it  to  England.  It  was  in  the  possession  of  Bernard 
Boreas,  Esq.,  of  Wakefield,  until  his  death,  when  it  was  sold  at 
auction  by  Mr.  Robins.3 

The  tricolor  of  France  (Plate  II)  is  supposed  to  be  an  union  of 
the  blue  banner  of  St.  Martin,  the  red  banner  or  oriflamme  of  St. 


1  In  the  old  time  the  French  royal  banner  was  semee-de-lys,  that  is  completely 
covered  with  them,  but  from  the  time  of  Charles  VI  it  invariably  consisted  of  three 
golden  fleur-de-lis  on  a  blue  field. — Fairholfs  Dictionary. 

3  BouteWs  Heraldry,  Hist,  and  Papular.  3  Madame  Tassaud*s  Catalogue. 

10 


74  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Dionysius  or  St.  Denys,  and  the  cornette  blanche,  there 
being  evidence  that  those  colors  have  been  regarded  in  France 
as  the  real  national  emblems  for  centuries.  Yet  the  choice  of 
the  tricolor  as  the  emblem  of  Liberty  at  jthe  time  of  the  Revo- 
lution which  cost  Louis  XVI  his  head,  is  said  to  have  been 
purely  accidental.  Blue  and  red,  the  ancient  colors  of  the  city 
of  Paris,  were  first  assumed,  and  all  the  citizens  mounted 
guard  in  a  blue  and  red  cockade  j  but  the  National  Guard  which 
was  not  unfriendly  to  the  throne,  admitted  the  white  of  the 
legitimate  standard,  and  thus  reproduced  the  tricolor  as  the 
standard  of  the  French  nation. 

London  Notes  and  Queries  has  several  communications 
on  the  origin  of  the  French  tricolor.  A  correspondent  who 
signs  himself  Andrew  Stelnmetz  (ad  ser.  vol.  vi,  164),  says  :  In 
1789  after  the  defection  of  the  French  Guards,  it  was  deter- 
mined to  raise  a  city  guard  of  40,000  men,  each  district  to  con- 
tribute a  batallion  of  800  men.  The  name  of  the  guard  was 
the  Parisian  Militia  ;  their  colors  the  blue  and  red  of  the  city, 
mixed  with  the  white  of  their  friends.  This  Parisian  militia 
became  the  National  Guard,  and  their  colors  the  tricolor,  from 
the  union  or  fraternization.  Another  correspondent  (H.  F.  H.), 
says  :  In  or  about  1356,  during  the  captivity  of  John  of  France 
in  the  Tower  of  London,  and  the  regency  of  the  Dauphin  Charles, 
the  states-general  of  Paris  effected  great  changes  in  the  mode  of 
government.  Paris  became  in  fact  a  sort  of  republic,  and  the 
municipality  governed  the  estates  and  in  truth  all  France.  At 
this  time  it  was  decided  that  the  city  of  Paris  should  have  colors 
of  its  own,  and  under  the  authority  of  Etienne  Marcel  a  flag 
was  selected  half  blue  and  half  red  with  an  agrafe  of  silver  and 
the  motto,  a  bonne  fin.  Shortly  after,  when  Etienne  Marcel 
was  murdered  with  sixty  of  his  followers,  the  colors  of  the 
city  were  suppressed,  and  remained  in  obscurity  until  1789. 
Upon  the  accession  of  Charles  V,  he  erected  the  Bastille  St. 
Antoine  on  the  very  spot  where  Etienne  Marcel  had  been 
slain,  as  the  first  monument  of  defiance  on  the  part  of  the 
crown  against  the  capital  and  which  remained  for  centuries  a 
state-prison  and  symbol  of  despotism.  By  a  singular  coinci- 
dence the  Bastile  was  destroyed  on  the  anniversary  of  the  day 
upon  which  the  ancient  colors  of  Paris — the  colors  of  Etienne 
Marcel  —  became  victorious  over  royalty.  On  that  day,  July 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  75 

14,  1789,  Lafayette  restored  the  colors  of  the  city  to  the  people, 
adding  thereto  the  royal  emblem  white  and  thus  composed  that 
tricolor  which  according  to  Lafayette's  prophetic  words,  "  Devait 
faire  le  tour  du  monde." 

It  appears  that  at  first  the  French  revolutionists  adopted  a 
green  cockade  which  was  however  quickly  discarded,  from  the 
recollection  that  it  was  the  livery  of  the  Counts  d'Artois.  On 
the  night  of  the  nth  of  July,  after  the  dismissal  of  Neckar,  at 
the  first  meeting  of  the  populace  in  the  Palais  Royal  they 
were  there  harangued  by  Camille  Desmoulins,  who  told  them 
"  there  was  no  resource  but  to  fly  to  arms  and  take  a  cockade 
by  which  to  recognize  each  other."  He  was  rapturously 
applauded  and  went  on  :  "  What  colors  will  you  have  ?  cry  out, 
choose  !  Will  you  have  green  the  color  of  hope  ?  or  the  blue 
of  Cincinnatus,  the  color  of  liberty  of  America  and  of  demo- 
cracy ?"  The  people  cried  "  The  green,  the  color  of  hope !" 

A.  A.,  another  correspondent  of  Notes  and  ghteries^  says  the 
tradition  in  France  concerning  the  adoption  of  the  tricolor,  is 
that  it  was  originally  the  field  of  the  arms  of  the  Orleans  family 
which  was  made  up  in  fact  of  the  red  of  the  ancient  oriflamme, 
which  was  gules  semee  of  lys,  or  ;  of  the  arms  of  Valois,  azure 
semee  in  like  manner  ;  and  of  Bourbon,  argent,  semee  of  the 
same.  As  the  Orleans  claimed  to  be  descended  of  all  three 
branches,  they  took  for  the  field  of  their  escutcheon  their  three 
tinctures,  and  blazoned  them  "  tierce  in  pale  azure,  argent,  and 
gules  semee  of  fleur  de  lys  or."  The  tradition  is,  when  Philip 
of  Orleans  threw  himself  into  the  arms  of  the  republicans  and 
called  himself  L'Egalite,  he  caused  the  fleur-de-lys  to  be  erased 
from  the  escutcheons  which  were  stuck  up  in  the  Palais  Royal. 
The  field  being  left,  it  was  identified  with  his  name,  and  by  de- 
grees became  the  Republican  flag.- 

Sieur  de  Aubigny,  marshal  of  France,  one  of  the  most  expe- 
rienced commanders  in  the  service  of  Charles  VIII  and  Louis 
XII,  as  a  relative  of  James  IV,  bore  the  red  lion  of  Scotland  on 
a  field  argent,  which  he  caused  to  be  semee  of  buckles,  signify- 
ing that  he  was  the  means  of  holding  united  the  kings  of  Scot- 
land and  France  against  England,  with  the  motto  Distantiajtm- 
git^  "  It  unites  the  distant." 

It  is  related  of  Philip  the  Bold  of  Burgundy  in  his  preparation 
for  the  invasion  of  England,  his  ship  was  painted  outside  in 


76  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

blue  and  gold,  and  there  were  three  thousand  standards  with  his 
motto,  assumed  no  doubt  for  the  occasion,  but  which  he  after- 
ward always  retained  Moult  me  tarde.  It  was  also  embroidered 
on  the  sails  of  his  ships  encircled  by  a  wreath  of  daisies  in  compli- 
ment to  his  wife.  Philip  the  Bold's  war  cry  was  Moult  me  tarde 
and  after  the  battle  of  Rosbee,  so  satisfied  was  he  with  the  people 
of  Dijon,  that  he  allowed  the  city  to  bear  his  arms  and  use  his  cri. 
As  this  motto  was  inscribed  in  this  way  :'M'OU'L'T:  | TARDE:  on 

:  ME  : 

their  standards,  many  in  reading  saw  only  the  two  words  moult, 
tarde ;  hence  the  sobriquet  of  Montarde  d&s  Dijon  —  moult 
being  the  old  French  for  beaucoup  —  much. 

Charles  III,  seventh  Duke  de  Bourbon,  the  celebrated  con- 
stable, had  displayed  near  his  tomb  at  Gaeta  his  great  standard  of 
yellow  silk  embroidered  with  flying  stags  and  naked  flaming 
swords,  with  the  word  esperance,  esperance,  in  several  places, 
meaning  he  hoped  to  revenge  himself  by  fire  and  sword  upon 
his  enemies. 

The  banner  of  Robert  de  la  Mark,  the  Great  Boar  of  Arden- 
nes, had  a  figure  of  St.  Margaret  with  a  dragon  at  her  feet. 

A  French  military  author,  who  served  and  wrote  in  the  time  of 
Charles  XIV,  intending  to  express  the  importance  of  preserving 
the  colors  to  the  last,  observed  that,  on  a  defeat  taking  place 
the  flag  should  serve  the  ensign  as  a  shroud  ;  and  instances  have 
occurred  of  a  standard  bearer,  who  being  mortally  wounded  tore 
the  flag  from  its  staff  and  died  with  it  wrapped  around  his  body. 
Such  a  circumstance  is  related  of  Don  Sebastian,  king  of  Por- 
tugal, at  the  battle  of  Alcaza,  and  of  a  young  officer  named 
Chatelier,  at  the  taking  of  Taillebourg  during  the  wars  of  the 
Huguenots. 

The  imperial  standard  of  France  (the  Napoleon  standard), 
was  the  tricolor,  semee  of  golden  bees,  and  charged  with  the 
eagle  of  the  empire  upon  the  central  division  of  the  white  field. 

In  the  guard  chamber  of  Windsor  Castle,  England,  suspended 
over  the  marble  busts  of  the  dukes  of  Marlborough  and  Wel- 
lington, hang  two  little  French  flags  of  peculiar  significance. 
The  one  a  white  flag  of  the  Bourbons  spotted  with  fleur-de-lys. 
The  other  the  tricolor.  These  flags  are  presented  by  the 
dukes  to  the  reigning  sovereign  of  Great  Britain  on  the  anniversa- 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  77 

ries  of  the  battles  of  Blenheim  and  Waterloo,  and  are  the  tenure 
of  service  by  which  the  noble  dukes  hold  the  estates  of  Blenheim 
and  Stratfieldsaye,  settled  on  them  by  Parliament.  The 
banner  annually  rendered  by  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  was 
formerly  suspended  in  Queen  Anne's  closet  in  Windsor  where 
she  first  received  intelligence  of  the  victory  of  Blenheim.1 

The  flags  and  standards  taken  in  battle,  which  were  removed 
from  the  Hotel  des  Invalides  on  the  approach  of  the  Prussian 
army  in  1870,  and  placed  in  safety  at  Brest,  have  been  recently 
restored  to  their  old  places  about  the  tombs  of  Napoleon  I,  or 
in  the  chapel.  Their  number  is  but  small,  for  it  will  be  re- 
membered that  in  1814,  the  governor  of  Les  Invalides  ordered 
the  whole  collection  to  be  burnt,  to  save  it  from  the  hands  of 
the  enemy.  At  that  time,  the  chapel  alone  contained  sixteen 
hundred  flags  and  standards,  trophies  of  the  triumphs  of  Napo- 
leon I.2 


ANGLO-SAXON,  SAXON,  EARLY  BRITISH  STANDARDS, 
BANNERS,  ETC. 

STANDARDS,  BANNERS  AND  DEVICES  OF  THE  ENGLISH  SOVE- 
REIGNS. In  the  Anglo-Saxon  poem  of  Beowulf,  supposed  to 
have  been  written  in  the  tenth  century,  we  read  "  then  to  Beo- 
wulf he  gave  a  golden  banner."  St.  Oswald,  who  fell  fighting 
in  defence  of  Christianity  against  Penda,  was  buried  at  Bardney 
Abbey,  gorgeously  enshrined,  with  a  banner  of  gold  and  purple 
suspended  over  his  remains.  The  Picts  regarded  with  reve- 
rence the  banner  called  Brechannoch  from  its  association  with 
St.  Columb,  the  irspiritual  father.  The  keeper  of  this  sacred 
relic  had  lands  assigned  him  for  its  custody. 

Ossian  mentions  the  standard  of  the  kings  and  chiefs  of 
clans,  and  says  that  the  king's  was  blue  studded  with  gold. 
The  Anglo-Saxon  ensign  was  very  grand.  It  had  in  it  the 
white  horse,  as  the  Danish  was  distinguished  by  the  raven. 
William  the  Conqueror  sent  Harold's  standard  captured  at  the 
battle  of  Hastings  which  bore  the  device  of  a  dragon,  to  the 
pope.  His  own  standard  was  sumptuously  embroidered  with 
gold  and  precious  stones,  in  the  form  of  a  man  fighting. 


1  Guide  to  Windsor.  2  London  Times,  Neiv  York  Tribune,  July,  1871. 


78  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

When  he  sailed  for  England,  the  white  banner,  consecrated  by 
Pope  Alexander  II  expressly  for  the  occasion,'  was  hoisted  at 
the  mast  head  of  the  ship  on  which  he  was  embarked.1  The 
Saxons  who  entered  Britain  about  A.  D.  449,  by  invitation  to 
protect  the  Britons,  were  marshaled  under  banners  bearing  the 
figure  of  a  man  and  a  horse,  from  which  symbols  the  chiefs  of 
the  Saxon  force  derived  the  names  of  Hengist  and  Horsa,  which 
has  been  the  ensign  of  the  county  of  Kent  from  the  fifth  cen- 
tury to  the  present  day.  The  badge  assigned  to  Arthur,  the 
mythic  king  of  Britain  in  the  sixth  century  is  azure  —  three 
crowns  proper — and  over  this  the  motto,  Trois  en  un. 
King  Arthur's  shield  forms  the  centre  of  the  star  of  the  Bath. 

The  standards  of  the  successive  rulers  of  Britain  may  be 
found  in  Sir  Winston  Churchill's  curious  work,  Divl  Brittanici, 
which  gives  the  white  horse  for  Kent,  the  white  dragon  for 
Wessex.2 

Among  the  Saxon  kings  of  England  there  were  two  who 
were  reputed  saints.  Edmund  the  Martyr,  and  Edward  the 
Confessor,  and  these  with  St.  George,  are  the  three  patron 
saints  of  England.  The  red  cross  on  a  silver  shield  of  St. 
George,  is  the  badge  of  the  order  of  the  Garter.  The  banners 
of  these  saints  accompanied  the  English  army,  and  waved  over 
the  fields  where  the  Edwards  and  Henrys  fought. 

St  Edmund's  banner  is  generally  considered  to  have  been 
azure,  three  crowns  or,  2  and  I ;  the  same  as  the  badge  assigned 
to  Arthur;  but  it  is  certain  from  the  description  by  Lydgate, 
that  two  banners  were  appropriated  to  that  saint,  of  which  draw- 
ings are  given  in  that  writer's  works.  One  of  them  is  that 
which  is  just  mentioned. 

"  Over  he  [the  king],  seyde  Lady  Hevene  Quene, 
Myn  own  baner,  with  here  shall  be." 

This  other  standard,  feeld  stable  off  colour  yude 
In  which  off  Gold  been  notable  crownys  thre 
The  first  tokne  in  cronycle  men  may  fynde 
Graunted  to  hym  for  Royal  dignyte 
And  the  second  for  virgynyte, 
For  martirdam  the  thrydde  in  his  suffryng 
To  these  annexyd  ffeyth,  hope  and  charyte 
In  tokne  he  was  martyr  mayde  and  kyng. 
These  thre  crownys  Kyng  Edmund  bar  certeyn 


1  See  ante,  page  2,9.  *  Retrospective  Re-view. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  79 

Whan  he  was  sent  be  grace  off  Goddis  hond 
At  Geynesburnh  for  to  slen  Kyng  Sweyn." 

"  By  which  myracle  men  may  understond 
Delyvered  was  from  try  but  all  thys  lond 
Mawgre  Danys  in  full  notable  wyse 
For  the  hooly  martyr  dissolvyd  hath  that  bond 
Set  this  Region  ageyn  in  his  franchise." 

"These  thre  crownys  history  aly  t*  aplye.  Applicacio 
By  pronostyk  nobally  sovereyne 
To  sixte  Herry  in  fygur  signefye 
How  he  is  born  to  worthy  crownys  tweyne 
Off  France  and  England,  lynealy  t'  atteyne 
In  this  byff  hcer,  afterward  in  hevene 
The  thrydde  crowne  to  receyve  in  certeyne 
For  his  merits  above  the  sterry  swene." 

The  other    represented    Eve  in  the  Garden  of  Eden,  and  the 
serpent  tempting  her 

"  The  feeld  powdered  with  many  hevenly  sterre 

And  halff  cressantis  off  gold  ful  bright  and  cleer 
And  when  that  evere  he  journeyde  nyh  or  ferre 
Ny  in  the  feeld,  with  hym  was  this  baneer." 
****** 

"  This  hooly  standard  hath  power  and  vertu 

To  stanche  fyres   and  stoppe  flawmys  rede 
By  myracle,  and  who  that  kan  take  heede 
God  grantyd  it  hym  for  a  prerogatyff,"  etc. 

****** 
"  This  vertuous  baner  shal  kepen  and  conserve 

This  lond  from  enmyes  dante  ther  cruel  pryde 
Off  syxte  Herry,  the  noblesse  to  preserve 
It  shall  be  borne  in  werrys  by  his  syde." 

It  is  to  be  observed,  that  the  banners  of  St.  Edmund,  or  St. 
Edward  do  not  occur  in  any  of  the  illuminations  of  the  chroni- 
cles or  other  manuscripts  in  the  British  Museum  ;  and  the  only 
proof  of  their  being  used  so  late  as  to  reign  of  Henry  V,  besides 
the  allusion  to  the  banner  of  St.  Edmund  by  Lydgate  who 
wrote  in  the  reigns  of  Henry  V,  and  VI,  are  the  statements  of 
cotemporary  chroniclers.  Le  Fevre,  Seigneur  de  St.  Henry,  in 
his  account  of  the  battle  of  Agincourt,  informs  us,  that  Henry 
had  five  banners,  that  is  to  say,  the  banner  of  the  Trinity,  the 
banner  of  St.  George,  the  banner  of  St.  Edward,  and  the  banner 
of  his  own  arms.  This  list,  however,  enumerates  but  four,  the 


80  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

fifth  was  probably  one  of  the  banners  of  St.  Edmund.  The 
banner  of  the  Trinity,  we  may  infer  from  a  painting  of  the  arms 
of  the  Trinity  in  Canterbury  Cathedral,  and  which  have  been 
thus  blazoned,  were  "  Gules  an  orle  and  pall,  argent  inscribed 
with  the  Trinity  in  Unity."  Lydgate  says  the  fifth  banner 
alluded  to  by  St.  Remy  was  that  of  the  Virgin  Mary ;  after 
enumerating  the  banners  of  St.  George,  the  Trinity,  and  St. 
Edward,  he  adds, 

The  device  on  the  banner  of  St.  Edward  the  Confessor  was 
without  doubt  the  cross  and  martlets,  as  they  are  carved  in 
stone  in  Westminster  Abbey,  where  he  is  buried,1  and  which 
Richard  II  impaled  with  his  own,  as  may  be  seen  by  the 
banner  of  that  king  on  the  monumental  brass  of  Sir  Simon  de 
Felkrig  his  standard  bearer,  at  Felkrig  in  Norfolk.2  Arms 
were  invented  for  Edward  the  Confessor  in  the  time  of  Edward 
I.  The  Anglo-Norman  heralds  were  probably  guided  in  their 
choice  by  a  coin  of  that  monarch,  upon  the  reverse  of  which 
appears  a  plain  cross  with  four  birds  one  in  each  angle.  The 
arms  as  then  blazoned,  are  azure,  a  cross  flory,  between  five 
martlets  or,  and  formed  the  standard  of  St.  Edward  as  usually 
displayed  by  the  English  monarchs  down  to  the  fifteenth  century. 
The  dragon  was  used  as  the  national  device  of  England  by  Ha- 
rold at  Hastings  ;  by  Richard  I,  in  1191  ;  and  by  Henry  III  in 
1264.  Edward  III  blazoned  his  standard  with  the  arms  of 
England  and  France  in  1340.2 

The  banners  of  the  sovereigns  of  England  up  to  the  reign  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  bore  their  family  devices,  when  the  last 
brilliant  relics  of  the  feudal  system,  the  joust,  the  tournament, 
and  all  their  paraphernalia  fell  into  disuse.  William  Rufus 
bore  a  young  eagle  gazing  at  the  sun,  with  the  motto,  Perfero, 
cc  I  endure  it."  Stephen  of  Blois  is  said  to  have  borne  an  archer, 
because  he  ascended  the  throne  when  the  sun  was  in  the  sign, 
Sagittarius  ;  or  by  others  because  he  gained  a  battle  by  the  aid 
of  his  archers. 

Henry  II  bore  the  broom  sprig  or  Plante  Genet  ("  II  portoit 
ung  G-ennett  entre  deux  Plantes  de  Geneste)."  This  well 
known  badge  is  supposed  to  have  been  derived  from  the  ances- 
tor of  the  Plantagenets,  Foulke,  Count  of  Anjou,  who  bore  a 
branch  of  the  broom  in  his  helmet,  either  by  way  of  penance 


1  BouteWs  Heraldry.  2  Ibid.  3  Retrospective  Review,  ad  series,  vol.  i. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  81 

or  in  sign  of  humility.  Richard  I,  his  son,  bore  a  star,  proba- 
bly of  Bethlehem,  issuing  from  the  horns  of  a  crescent  in 
token  of  his  victories  over  the  Turks,  a  mailed  hand  holding  a 
shivered  lance,  motto  Labor  vivis  Convenit^  Labor  suits  or  is 
fitting  for  men.  A  sun,  or,  two  anchors  ;  motto,  Christo  Duce, 
Christ  is  my  leader  ; z  and  on  assuming  the  title  of  king  of 
Jerusalem  he  hoisted  the  banner  of  the  holy  city,  the  do- 
minion of  Judah,  the  badge  of  David  and  Solomon.  On  the 
second  great  seal  of  this  king  is  the  first  representation  of  the 
three  lions  or  leopards,  which  have  from  that  time  descended  to 
us  as  the  royal  arms  of  England.2 

John  and  Henry  III  bore  the  star  and  crescent,  and  John 
was  the  first  to  add  Dominus  Hibernia  to  the  royal  titles. 

Edward  III  bore  silver  clouds  proper,  with  rays  descending. 
He  also  bore  a  blue  boar  with  his  tusks,  and  his  clies  and  his 
members  of  gold.  He  was  the  first  monarch  that  used  the 
English  vernacular  dialect  in  a  motto.  His  standard  as  given 
by  Sir  Charles  Barker  is  the  lion  of  England  in  a  field  semee 
of  rising  suns  and  crowns  ;  motto,  Dieu  et  mon  droit* 

Edward  III  first  granted  the  fleur-de-lys  of  France,  and  on 
his  third  great  campaign  we  find  for  the  first  time  the  lion  sta- 
tent  quadrant  as  it  still  continues  on  the  royal  standard  and 
arms.  His  own  standard  erected  at  Cressy  was  of  red  silk  em- 
broidered with  lilies  of  gold.2 

The  Black  Prince  bore  "  a  sunne  arysing  out  of-the  cloudes 
betokening  that  although  his  noble  courage  and  princely  valour 
had  hitherto  been  hid  and  obscured  from  the  world,  now  he  was 
arysing  to  glory  and  honnor  in  France."2 

The  cherished  and  popular  belief  is  that  the  crest  and  motto 
of  the  Prince  of  Wales,  was  won  by  the  Black  Prince  at  Cressy.2 
But  this  tradition  is  unsupported  by  history,  for  the  crest  of 


1  Bouteirs  Heraldry.     *  Boutell  and  Historical  Badges  and  Devices. 
3  There  lay  the  trophy  of  our  chivalry 

Plumed  of  his  ostrich  feathers,  which  the  Prince 
Took  as  the  ensign  of  his  victory, 

Which  he  did  after  weare,  and  ever  since 
The  Prince  of  Wales  doth  that  achievement  beare, 

Which  Edward  first  did  win  by  conquest  there. —  AHcync. 

From  the  Bohemian  crown  the  plume  he  wears, 

Which  after  for  his  credit  he  did  preserve 
To  his  father's  use,  with  this  fit  word  —  "  /  serve." —  Ben  jfonson. 

11 


82  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

the  blind  king  of  Bohemia  was  not  a  plume  of  ostrich  feathers, 
but  the  wings  of  a  vulture  expanded.  On  the  other  hand  an 
ostrich  feather  silver,  its  pen  gold,  was  one  of  the  badges 
of  Edward  III,  and  was  with  some 
slight  difference  adopted  by  the  Black 
Prince,  and  by  all  his  sons  and  their 
descendants.  The  Black  Prince  used 
sometimes  three  feathers,  sometimes  one 
argent.  His  brother  John  of  Gaunt 
three  or  one  ermine,  the  stems  or  labels 
or,  on  a  sable  ground.  A  single  feather 
Great  of  the  Black  Prince.  was  worn  by  his  y  ounger  brother,  Thomas 
of  Gloucester,  and  by  their  nephews  Ed- 
ward, Duke  of  York,  and  Richard,  Duke  of  Cambridge.  It 
is  more  likely  then,  that  Edward  I  adopted  this  crest  at  the 
battle  of  Poitiers,  joining  to  the  family  badge  the  old  English 
word  Icden  (Theyn)  I  serve,  in  accordance  with  the  words  of  the 
Apostle,  "  the  heir  while  he  is  a  child,  differeth  nothing  from  a 
servant."  The  feathers  are  placed  separately  upon  the  tomb  of 
the  Black  Prince  in  Canterbury  Cathedral.  The  feather  badge 
was  also  used  by  Richard  II,  and  by  Henry  IV,  both  before 
and  after  he  came  to  the  throne ;  by  his  brother  Humphrey  the 
good  Duke  of  Gloucester  and  all  the  members  of  the  Beaufort 
branch.  Henry  VI  bore  two  feathers  in  saltiere.  Three  or 
one  was  adopted  as  a  cognizance  by  his  son  Prince  Edward, 
and  was  worn  as  such  by  Warwick  at  the  battle  of  Barnet.1 
Richard  II  adopted  the  white  hart  couchant  on  a  mount 
under  a  tree  proper,  gorged  with  a  crown  and  chained,  the  de- 
vice of  his  mother  the  fair  maid  of  Kent.  Richard  wore  two 
harts  as  supporters,  and  is  the  first  king  whose  supporters  are 
authenticated.  His  standard  has  the  hart  with  two  suns.1 

Edward  I  was  the  first  English  monarch  who  assumed  a  rose, 
or,  stalked  proper  for  a  badge.1 

Richard  IPs  successor,  Henry  IV  of  Bolingbroke  or  Lancaster, 
introduced  the  red  rose  of  Edmund  of  Lancaster  (whose  daughter 
and  heiress  was  Henry's  mother),  which  became  ever  after  the 
badge  of  the  Lancastrians  as  opposed  to  the  white  rose  of  York. 
He  also  had  for  cognizance  the  antelope  as  well  as  the  silver 


1  Bouteirs  Heraldry  •     Hist.    Badges    and  Devices ;    Ellis*  s   Heraldry,    and  Retro- 
spective Review. 


FLAG  OF  THE    UtflTED  STATES.  83 

swans  of  the  De  Bohuns.  The  banner  of  Henry  IV  of  Eng- 
land has  a  swan  and  a  large  rose,  the  field  semi  of  foxtails,  stocks 
of  trees,  and  red  roses,  and  is  per  fesse  argent  and  azure,  the 
livery  colors  of  the  Lancastrians  having  at  the  head  the  red  cross 
of  St.  George  on  a  white  field.1 

When  Henry  V  entered  the  lists  against  Mowbray,  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  his  caparisons  were  embroidered  with  the  antelope 

and  swan ;  Henry's  antelope 
appears  at  his  interview  with 
King  Charles  at  Melun. 

"  The  king  of  England  had 
a  large  tente  of  blue  velvet  and 
green,  richly  embroidered  with 
two  devices :  the  one  was  an 
antelope  drawing  in  a  horse 
mill,  the  other  was  an  antelope 

sittinS  on  a  hiSh  stage  with  a 
branch  of  olife  in  his  mouth, 

and  the  tente  was  replenished  and  decked  with  this  poysie."  2 
"  dfter  busie  labour e  commit})  victorious  reste" 

He  also  used  at  times  a  beacon  or  cresset,  and  a  fleur-de-lis 
crowned  and  a  fox's  tail.  With  reference  to  the  last  when  Henry  V 
made  his  solemn  entry  into  Rouen,  a  page  carried  behind  him,  in 
guise  of  a  banner,  a  fox's  tail  attached,  and  when  presented  to 
Katharine,  he  wore  in  his  helmet  a  fox's  tail  ornamented  with 
precious  stones.  After  the  victory  of  Agincourt  he  assumed  the 
motto,  Non  nobis  domine.* 

On  the  banner  of  Henry  VI,  were  antelopes  and  roses,  and  he 
was  the  first  sovereign  to  use  the  motto,  Dieu  et  mon  Droit. 
He  also  had  for  his  devices  a  panther  passant  gardant  argent, 
spotted  with  many  colors  with  vapor  issuing  from  his  mouth  and 
ears,  and  two  feathers  in  saltieres,  the  sinister  argent  surmounted 
by  the  dexter  or.4 

The  sun  in  splendor  and  sable  bull  denoted  the  IVth  Edward 
and  the  white  boar  and  dun  cow  Richard  III.4 


1  BouteWs  Historical  Badges  and  Devices.     a  Harlcian  Manuscripts.      *  Ibid. 

4  Edward  IV  placed  the  white  rose  en  soled  on  his  standard  in  commemoration  of 
his  victory  at  the  battle  of  Mortimer's  Cross,  1471,  when  "  before  the  battle,  it  is  said, 
the  sun  appeared  to  the  Earl  of  March  (afterwards  Edward  IV),  like  three  suns,  and 


84  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  honor  of  bearing  Edward  IV's  standard  at  the  battle  of 
Towton  devolved  upon  Ralph  Vestynden,  afterwards  first  yeo- 
man of  the  chamber  who  had  for  his  services  at  the  battle  an 
annuity  of  «£io  granted  to  him  "yerely  unto  the  tyme  he  be  re- 
warded by  us  of  an  office."  Edward's  standard  at  that  battle 
was  "  the  bull  sable,  corned  and  trooped  or."  It  was  used  by  him 
on  other  occasions,  and  others  of  the  house  of  York  having  been 
a  cognizance  or  device  of  the  Clares  (Earls  of  Gloucester)  from 
whom  the  house  of  York  was  descended.  His  brother  Richard 
III,  had  for  his  standard  at  the  battle  of  Bosworth  a  dun  cow. 

Henry  VII,  after  the  battle  of  Bosworth,  offered  at  St.  Paul's 
three  standards.  The  first  bore  the  figure  of  St.  George ;  the 
second,  a  red  dragon  on  white  and  green  sarcanet ;  and  the  third,  a 
dun  cow  upon  yellow  tartan.  Hutton  says :  Henry  III,  on  his  arrival 
in  London  carried  in  from  Richard  III,  three  standards,  the  chief  of 
which  was  St.  George,  and  erected  them  in  St.  Paul's  church,  also 
that  his,  Henry  VII's  standard  at  Bosworth,  was  a  red  dragon  upon 
green  and  white  silk.1  The  dragon  being  Henry's,  it  is  reasonable 
to  consider  the  other  two  as  Richard's  standards.  Henry  VII 
also  carried  a  portcullis  as  his  badge,  as  well  as  the  red  and  white 
roses  combined,  emblematic  of  the  union  of  the  rival  houses. 


suddenly  it  joyned  altogether  in  one ;  for  which  cause  some  imagyne  that  he  gave  the 
sun  in  its  full  brightness  for  his  badge  or  cognizance." 

"EDWARD. —  Dazzle  mine  eyes,  or  do  I  see  three  suns  ? 
RICHARD. —  Three  glorious  suns,  each  one  a  perfect  sun,  etc., 
*     *     *     #     See,  see  they  join,  embrace  and  seem  to  kiss. 
EDWARD. —  Tis  wondrous  strange,  the  like  yet  never  heard  of. 
I  think  it  cites  us,  brother,  to  the  field ; 
That  we,  the  sons  of  brave  Plantagenet, 
Each  one  already  blazing  by  one  meedy, 
Should  notwithstanding,  join  our  lights  together, 
And  over  shine  the  earth,  as  this  the  world, 
Whatitr  it  bodes,  henceforward  will  I  bear 
Upon  my  target  three  fair  shining  suns." 

Henry  VI,  3d  pt.  act  u,  sc.  i. 

1  The  red  dragon  of  Cadwallader,  "  Red  dragon,  dreadful."  Henry  claimed  an 
uninterrupted  descent  from  the  aboriginal  princes  of  Britain,  Arthur  and  Uther, 
Caradoc,  etc.  His  grandfather,  Owen  Tudor,  bore  a  dragon  on  his  device  in  proof  of 
his  descent  from  Cadwallader,  the  last  British  prince  and  first  king  of  Wales,  A.D.  678. 
The  dragon,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind,  for  a  long  time  was  the  customary  standard  of 
the  kings  of  England.  It  was  used  by  Harold  at  Hastings.  It  was  borne  in  the  battle  be- 
tween Canute  and  Edmund  Ironsides.  It  is  figured  in  the  Bayeaux  tapestry.  It  was 
carried  before  Henry  III,  at  the  battle  of  Lewes.  Edward  I,  when  in  Wales,  fought 
under  the  dragon. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


85 


u  In  the  marriage  procession  of  Henry  Tudor  and  Elizabeth  of 
York,"  says  an  agreeable  writer.  "  Each  partizan  of  Lancaster 
gave  his  hand  to  a  lady  of  the  York  party,  holding  a  boquet  of 

two  roses,  red  and  white 
entwined,  and  at  the  birth 
of  Prince  Henry,  the  ar- 
morists  composed  a  rose  of 
two  colors  (the  leaves  al- 
ternately red  and  white),  as 
an  emblematical  offspring 
of  the  marriage.  Horti- 
culturists also  forced  nature 
into  an  act  of  loyalty  and 
produced  the  party  colored 
flower  known  to  the  pre- 
sent day  as  the  rose  of  York 
and  Lancaster." 

The  same  cognizances 
were  used  by  Henry  VIII, 
and  Edward  VI,  the 
former  of  whom  displayed 

sometimes  a  greyhound  courant  and  collared,  and  at  others  after 
the  siege  of  Boulogne,  a  white  swan,  the  arms  of  the  city. 
Queen  Mary,  before  her  accession,  adopted  the  red  and  white 
roses,  but  added  a  pomegranate  to  show  her  descent  from  Spain  ; 
but  on  assuming  the  sceptre  she  took  "  winged  time  drawing 
truth  out  of  a  pit  "  with  this  motto,  Veritas  temporis  filia.  The 
badges  of  good  (?)  Queen  Bess,  were  the  white  and  red  roses, 
the  fleur-de-lis  and  Irish  harp,  all  ensigned  by  the  royal  crown, 
to  which  James  I  added  the  Scotch  thistle." 

According  to  historic  traditions,  see  Shakespeare^  Henry  VI  (ist 
part),  the  Roses  — "  The  fatal  colors  of  our  striving  houses." 
"  The  pale  and  purple  "  rose  of  York  and  Lancaster  were  first 
chosen  during  the  momentous  dispute  about  1450,  between 
Somerset  and  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  in  the  Temple  garden, 
when  Somerset,  to  collect  the  suffrage  of  the  bystanders,  plucked 
a  red  rose  and  Warwick  a  white  rose,  and  each  called  upon 
every  man  present  to  declare  his  party  by  taking  a  rose  of  the 
color  chosen  by  him  whose  cause  he  favored.  This  was  the 


Two  standards  of  Henry  VIII, 

From  the  picture  of  his  embarkation  at  Dover  Castle 
for  the  Field  of  Cloth  of  Gold. 


86 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


prologue  to  the  great  national  tragedy  which  ended  in  the  ex- 
tinction of  the  royal  line  and  name  of  Plantagenet. 
"  This  brawl  to-day 

Grown  to  this  faction,  in  the  Temple  Garden 
Shall  send  between  the  red  rose  and  the  white, 
A  thousand  souls  to  death  and  deathly  night." 

King  Henry  VI,  ist  part,  Act  ii,  sc.  4. 

But  the  roses  were  only  renewed.  Both  Edward  I  and  his 
brother  Edmund  of  Lancaster  wore  the  red  rose,  which  was 
taken  by  John  of  Gaunt  on  his  marriage  with  Blanche,  the 
heiress  of  Lancaster.  When  John  of  Gaunt  adopted  the  red 
rose,  his  younger  brother  Edmund  Langley,  Duke  of  York,  as- 
sumed the  white  derived  from  the  castle  of  Clifford,  which  he 
transmitted  to  his  descendants,  the  house  of  York.  Mr. 
Planche  inclines  to  derive  the  rose  originally  from  Eleanor  of 
Provence,  queen  of  Henry  III. 

The  chronicler  of  Caerleverock  describes  the  royal  banner  of 
Edward  I  after  this  characteristic  manner :  "On  his  banner 
were  three  leopards,  courant,  of  fine  gold,  set  on  red ;  fierce 
were  they,  haughty  and  cruel,  thus  placed  to  signify  that,  like 
them,  the  king  is  dreadful  to  his  enemies.  For  his  bite  is 
slight  to  none  that  inflame  his  anger ;  and  yet,  towards  such  as 
seek  his  friendship  or  submit  to  his  power,  his  kindness  is  soon 
rekindled."  ' 

The  royal  banners  of  England  from  the  time  of  Edward,  have 
always  borne  the  same  blazonry  as  the  royal  shield.  Edward 

III  placed  on  his  standards  his 
quartered  shield  as  their  head  and 
powdered  them  with  fleur-de-lys 
and  lions.  Drawings  of  many  cu- 
rious examples  of  these  banners 
and  standards  are  preserved  in 
Herald's  College.  Several  of  the 
English  sovereigns,  in  addition  to 
the  banner  of  their  royal  arms,  used 
other  banners  and  standards 
charged  with  their  badges.  The 
royal  banner  of  arms  charged  their 


Standard  of  Edward  III. 


1  Siege  of  Carle-vtrock. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  87 

insignia  upon  the  entire  field  without  any  accessories  until  the 
time  of  the  Stuarts,  when  the  arms  were  sometimes  associated 
with  other  devices,  or  the  flag  bore  the  entire  royal  achievement 
charged  upon  the  centre  of  its  field.  Curious  examples  of  these 
royal  standards  thus  emblazoned  appear  in  the  pictures  now  at 
Hampton  Court,  representing  the  embarkation  of  Charles  II, 
in  1660,  and  of  William  III,  in  1688.  Of  late  the  royal  banner 
is  blazoned  with  the  arms  of  the  United  Kingdom  over  the  whole 
field. 

The  battles  of  Caton  Moor  or  Northallerton,  fought  Aug. 
22,  1 138,  is  called  the  "  battle  of  the  standard,"  because  the  Eng- 
lish barons  rallied  around  a  sacred  stand,  constructed  of  a  ship's 
mast,  fixed  in  a  four  wheeled  vehicle  and  bearing  the  banners 
of  St.  Peter's  of  York,  St.  John  of  Beverly,  and  St.  Wilfred  of 
Ripon,  surmounted  by  a  pyx  containing  a  consecrated  host. 
This  standard  was  brought  forth  by  the  archbishop  of  York 
when  the  English  were  hotly  pressed  by  the  invaders  headed  by 
King  David. 

The  banner  or  standard  of  St.  Cuthbert  of  Durham,  made  in 
1346,  of  which  a  particular  and  minute  account  has  been  pre- 
served in  a  curious  little  volume  entitled,  The  antient  Rites  and 
Monuments  of  the  Monastical  and  Cathedral  Church  of  Durham, 
1672,  contained  a  singular  relic  of  the  saint  which  was  thought 
to  endow  it  with  peculiar  sanctity  and  power.  This  banner,  a 
yard  broad  and  five  quarters  deep,  was  of  red  velvet  embroidered 
and  wrought  with  flowers  of  green  silk  and  gold,  the  nether  part 
of  it  indented  in  five  parts  and  fringed  with  red  silk  and  gold.  "  In 
the  midst  of  the  banner  cloth,  was  the  corporax  cloth,  with 
which  St.  Cuthbert  in  his  life  time  had  been  used  to  cover  the 
chalice  when  he  said  mass.  This  corporax  cloth  was  covered 
over  with  white  velvet  half  a  yard  square  every  way,  having  a 
red  cross  of  red  velvet  on  both  sides  over  the  same  holy  relique 
most  cunningly  and  artificially  compiled  and  framed,  being  finely 
fringed  about  the  skirts  and  edges,  with  fringe  of  red  silk  and 
gold,  and  three  little  silver  bells  fastened  to  the  skirts  of  said 
banner  cloth  like  unto  sacring  bells."  This  banner,  the  account 
goes  on  to  state,  was  never  carried  or  showed  in  any  battle,  but 
by  the  especial  grace  of  God  Almighty  and  the  mediation  of 
holy  St.  Cuthbert,  it  brought  home  the  victory. 


88  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

After  the  Reformation,  St.  Cuthbert's  banner  fell  into  the 
hands  of  Whittingham,  who  was  made  dean  of  Durham,  and  his 
wife,  a  French  woman,  is  reported  to  have  burnt  it.1 

In  the  middle  ages,  the  standard  was  not  a  square  flag  like  the 
banner,  but  elongated  like  the  guidon  and  pennon  but  much 
larger,  becoming  narrow  and  rounded  at  the  end,  which  was  slit, 
unless  the  standard  belonged  to  a  prince  of  the  blood  royal. 

The  size  of  the  standard  was  regulated  by  the  rank  of  the  per- 
son whose  arms  or  device  it  bore.  The  standard  of  an  emperor 
was  eleven  yards  in  length  ;  of  a  king  nine  yards  ;  of  a  prince 
seven  yards  ;  of  a  marquis  six  and  a  half  yards  ;  of  an  earl  six  yards  ; 
of  a  viscount  or  baron  five  yards  ;  of  a  knight  banneret  four  and 
a  half  yards  ;  of  a  baronet  four  yards.  These  standards  were 
generally  divided  into  three  portions,  one  containing  the  arms  of 
the  noble,  then  came  his  cognizance  or  badge,  and  then  his  crest  ; 
these  being  divided  by  bands  on  which  was  inscribed  his 
war  cry,  or  motto,  the  whole  being  fringed  with  his  livery  or 
family  colors. 

Certain  relics  or  memorials  of  the  fight  of  Otterburne  Aug. 

J5>  J388,  are  still  preserved  in 
Scotland.  The  story  of  the  battle 
represents  Douglas  as  having  a 
personal  encounter  with  Percy  in 
front  of  Newcastle,  taken  from 
him  his  spear  and  hanging  flag, 
saying  he  would  carry  it  home 
with  him  and  plant  it  on  his  castle 

The  Douglas  Standard,  ,38,.  rf  j,,,^.. 

The  battle  itself  was  an  effort  of  Percy  to  recover  this  valued 
piece  of  spoil,  which  however,  found  its  way  to  Scotland,  not- 
withstanding the  death  of  its  captor.  One  of  the  two  natural  sons 
of  Douglas,  founded  the  family  of  Douglas  of  Cavers  in  Rox- 
burghshire, which  still  exists  in  credit  and  renown  ;  and  in  their 
hands  are  the  relics  of  Otterburne  now  nearly  five  hundred  years 
old.  It  is  found,  however,  that  history  has  somewhat  misrepre- 
sented the  matter.  The  Otterburne  flag,  proves  not  to  be 
a  spear  pennon,  but  a  standard  thirteen  feet  long  (two  yards  longer 
than  the  regulated  sizes  of  an  emperor's  standard)  bearing  the 

1  Penny  Cyclopedia.     a  Chambers 's  Book  of  Days. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  89 

Douglas  arms  ;  it  evidently  has  been  Douglas's  own  banner, 
which  of  course  his  sons  would  be  most  anxious  to  preserve  and 
carry  home.  Here  is  a  standard  laid  up  in  store  at  Cavers  more 
than  a  hundred  years  before  America  was  discovered.1 

THE  ROYAL  STANDARD  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  IRELAND. 
The  origin  of  the  emblazonments  on  that  gorgeous  banner  may 
be  thus  historically  sketched.2  The  lions  passant  gardant  or,  on 
a  red  field  were  the  arms  of  Normandy  and  two  of  them  were 
introduced  by  William  Rufus  ;  the  third  was  added  by  Henry  II 
for  the  duchy  of  Aquitaine,  which  he  possessed  in  right  of  his  wife. 
Edward  III  quartered  with  the  lions  the  fleur-de-lis  powdered 
on  a  blue  field,  of  which  five  were  entire,  and  borne  in  the  first 
and  fourth  quarters.  This  he  did  on  claiming  the  sovereignty  of 
France,  in  right  of  his  mother,  Isabel,  sister  and  heiress  of 
Charles  the  Fair ;  thus  the  royal  standard  was 
composed  of  the  arms  of  France  and  England  com- 
bined, and  such  it  continued  until  the  reign  of  Henry 
V,  when  the  French  king  having  reduced  the 
number  of fleur-de-lis  to  three,  Henry  did  the  same 
and  they  so  appear  on  the  standard  carried  by  the 
Great  Harry,  in  the  time  of  Henry  VIII,  and  they 
occur  the  same  on  a  royal  standard  at  the  main  of  a 
Arms  of  Henry  ship  of  war  (supposed  tobe  the  Ark  Royal  of  Ra- 
V,  of  England,  leigh)  of  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  as  represented  on 
the  tapestry  of  the  old  house  of  lords,  and  which  was 
destroyed  by  the  fire.  On  a  staff  abaft,  this  ship  has  a  plain 
square  flag  of  St.  George  —  white  with  a  red  cross.  On  the 
union  of  England  and  Scotland,  through  the  accession  of  James  I, 
the  standard  underwent  a  change,  the  first  and  fourth  quarters 
being  each  the  arms  just  described,  the  second  introducing  the 
lion  of  Scotland,  and  the  third  quarter  the  harp  of  Ireland. 

William  III  placed  an  escutcheon  of  pretence  upon  the  royal 
standard,  for  Nassau,  which  was  removed  by  Queen  Anne,  and 
the  standard  then  stood,  the  first  and  fourth  quarterings  the  lions 
of  England  and  Scotland,  the  second  quarter  the  fleur-de-lis,  and 


1  Chamber  s1!  Book  of  Days. 

2  The  royal  banners  of  England  have  always  borne  the  same  blazonry  as  the  royal 
:~i  j 


shield. 

12 


90  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

the  third  quarter  the  harp.  George  I  again  changed  it,  and  the 
arms  of  Brunswick,  of  Lunenburg,  of  ancient  Saxony,  the  crown 
of  Charlemagne  formed  during  his  reign  the  fourth  quarter,  the  other 
quarters  remaining  as  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne.  On  the 
legislative  union  with  Ireland  in  1801,  the  fleur-de-lis  of  France 
were  removed. 

Charles  I,  in  his  issue  with  the  parliament,  having  decided 
to  make  a  solemn  appeal  to  the  sword,  published  a  proclamation 
requiring  all  his  subjects  who  could  bear  arms  to  meet  him  at 
Nottingham  on  the  23d  of  Aug.,  1641,  when  he  designed  to  raise 
his  royal  standard,  the  first  and  only  times  of  such  a  rally  since 
the  raising  of  the  standard  by  the  barons  at  Northallerton,  A.  D. 
1138.  At  the  appointed  time  a  numerous  company,  mounted 
and  on  foot,  came  from  the  surrounding  country,  rather  to  indulge 
their  curiosity  with  respect  to  the  mode  of  conducting  an  ancient 
ceremony  never  before  witnessed  in  the  memory  of  man,  than 
to  offer  loyal  assistance  to  their  sovereign. 

On  the  hill,  three  troops  of  horse  and  a  corps  of  about  six 
hundred  foot  were  drawn  up  to  guard  the  standard.  Just 
as  the  herald  was  about  to  begin,  King  Charles  desired  to  see 
the  proclamation  ;  and  calling  for  pen  and  ink,  placed  the  paper 
on  his  knee  as  he  sat  in  the  saddle,  and  made  several  alterations 
with  his  own  hand,  afterwards  returning  it  to  the  herald,  who 
then  read  it ;  but  on  coming  to  the  passages  which  the  king  had 
corrected,  with  some  embarrassment.  Immediately  after  the  read- 
ing, the  trumpets  sounded,  the  standard  was  advanced,  and  the 
spectators  threw  up  their  hats,  shouting  "God  save  the  king!"  The 
standard  raised  was  a  large  blood  red  streamer  bearing  the 
royal  arms  quartered,  with  a  hand  pointing  to  the  crown  which 
stood  above,  and  inscribed  with  the  motto  "  Give  Ctzsar  his  due." 
Farther  on  towards  the  point  were  represented  at  intervals  the 
rose,  the  fleur-de-lis,  and  the  harp,  each  surmounted  by  a  royal 
crown. 

Some  delay  now  took  place.  It  was  with  difficulty  the  stand- 
ard could  be  fixed  in  its  place,  from  the  ground  being  solid  rock  and 
no  instruments  to  pierce  it  having  been  provided.  Scarcely  had 
this  object  been  accomplished  by  digging  into  the  firm  stone  with 
the  daggers  and  halbert  points  of  the  soldiers,  when  a  fierce  gust 
of  wind  sweeping  with  a  wild  moan  across  the  face  of  the  hill 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  91 

laid  prostrate  the  emblem  of  sovereignty.  This  accident  was 
regarded  as  a  presage  of  evil,  and  a  general  melancholy 
overspread  the  assembly.  That  day  no  further  attempt  was 
made,  and  the  standard  was  borne  back  into  the  castle  in  silence. 
The  next  day  and  the  day  following  the  ceremony  was  repeated, 
the  king  attending  on  each  occasion  with  less  gloomy  auspices.1 

THE  ROYAL  STANDARD  OF  THE  UNITED  KINGDOM  OF 
GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  IRELAND  was  established,  and  was  first 
hoisted  on  the  Tower  of  London,  and  on  Bedford  Tower,  Dublin, 
and  displayed  by  the  Foot  Guards,  Jan.  I,  i8oi.2  When  the 
new  standard  was  first  hoisted  on  board  the  Royal  William 
at  Spithead  after  the  union,  it  was  considered  of  ominous  import 
by  the  sailors  of  the  fleet,  that  a  gale  of  wind  blew  it  from  the 
mast-head  and  it  was  lost.3  It  is  a  gorgeous  banner,  and  when 
flashing  its  golden  splendor  in  the  bright  beams  of  the  sun  presents 
a  beautiful  appearance.  .The  emblazonry  represents  the  arms 
of  the  time  being  of  the  nation,  as  impressed  upon  the  coins 
and  borne  upon  the  great  seal  and  seals  of  office.  Its  bearings 
have  been  several  times  changed,  as  circumstances  rendered 
necessary. 

The  royal  standard  is  never  hoisted  except  on  occasion  of 
the  first  ceremony.  It  is  never  displayed  on  ship  board  except 
when  the  sovereign  or  some  member  of  the  royal  family  is 
actually  present,4  or  on  the  sovereign's  birthdays,  when  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  a  fleet  hoists  it  at  the  main.  In  garrisons  at 
such  times  it  always  supersedes  the  jack,  or  common  garrison  flag. 


1  Cattermole's  Great  Civil  War.  2  Haydn's  Book  of  Dates. 

3  British  Naval  Chronicle. 

4  The  only  occasion  on  which  the  royal  standard  is  known  to  have  been  displayed 
within  the  United  States  of  America  was  when  the  Prince  of   Wales  embarked 
at  Portland,  Maine,  Oct.  15,  1860,  to  return  to  England   after  his   tour  through  the 
United  States  and  Canada. 

"  The  prince's  last  act  on  American  soil  was  to  take  leave  of  the  mayor  of  Portland. 
He  then  stepped  hurriedly  down  the  carpeted  steps  where  he  embarked  to  his  barge, 
which  had  a  silken  union  jack  flying  at  the  stern.  The  moment  he  stepped  on  board, 
a  sailor  at  the  bow  unrolled  a  small  royal  standard  of  silk  attached  to  a  staff  and 
placed  it  at  the  bow  of  the  boat.  As  soon  as  it  was  in  place  the  whole  British  squadron, 
mustering  eight  or  ten  ships,  honored  it  with  a  royal  salute  of  twenty-one  guns.  The 
yards  of  the  ships  were  at  the  same  time  manned,  and  when  the  prince  stepped  on  the 
deck  of  the  Hero,  his  own  ship,  the  royal  standard  was  run  up  at  her  main,  and 
again  saluted  by  the  whole  fleet,  which  immediately  after  weighed  and  put  to  sea,  the 
Hero  leading.  As  they  passed  Fort  Preble,  the  American  ensign  was  run  up  at  the 
fore  and  saluted  by  the  whole  fleet  with  twenty-one  guns  from  each  ship,  which  was 
returned  by  the  guns  of  the  fort." —  Goold's  History  of  the  Portland  Rife  Corps. 


92  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

As  established  in  1801,  it  was  heraldically  described  as 
"  Quarterly  first  and  fourth,  gules  three  lions  passant  gardant  in 
pale  or,  for  England.  Second,  or,  a  lion  rampant  gules  within  a 
double  tressure  flory  counter  flory  of  the  last  for  Scotland. 
Third,  azure,  a  harp  or,  stringed  argent,  for  Ireland.  On  an 
escutcheon  of  pretence,  ensigned  with  the  electoral  bonnet ; 
and  divided  per  pale  and  per  cheveron,  enarched  with  three  com- 
partments, the  arms  of  his  majesty's  dominions  in  Germany, 
viz  :  two  lions  passant  gardant  in  pale  or,  for  Brunswick.  Second 
or,  semee  of  hearts  proper,  a  lion  rampant  azure,  for  Brunswick. 
Third,  gules,  a  horse  courant  argent,  for  Saxony.  In  the  centre 
on  an  escutcheon  gules,  the  crown  of  Charlemagne  proper,  being 
the  badge  of  the  office  of  arch  treasurer  to  the  holy  Roman 
empire."  x 

The  white  horse  on  a  red  field,  was  the  armorial  bearing  of 
ancient  Saxony  or  Westphalia,  and  has. for  centuries  been  borne 
by  the  illustrious  house  of  Brunswick.  The  banner  of  Witte- 
kend  bore  a  black  horse,  which  on  his  conversion  to  Christianity 
by  Charlemagne,  was  altered  to  white  as  the  emblem  of  the  pure 
faith  he  had  embraced.  In  1700  a  medal  was  struck  at  Hanover 
to  commemorate  the  accession  to  the  electorate  of  George  Lewis, 
Duke  of  Hanover,  afterwards  George  I.  This  medal  bears  on 
one  side  the  head  of  the  elector,  and  on  the  reverse  the  white 
horse.  On  the  accession  of  George  I,  the  white  horse  was  in- 
troduced as  a  royal  badge  in  the  standards  and  colors  of  certain 
regiments  of  cavalry  and  infantry. 

When  Queen  Victoria  came  to  the  throne,  under  the  opera- 
tion of  the  Salic  law,  she  was  compelled  to  relinquish  the  king- 
dom of  Hanover  to  her  uncle  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  and  the 
escutcheon  of  pretence  with  its  electoral  bonnet,  blue  lion  and 
white  horse,  was  removed,  leaving  the  original  quarterings  for 
the  three  estates  of  the  realm,  England,  Scotland  and  Ireland  as 
it  now  is.  (Plate  II.) 

1  Naval  Chronicle,  vol.  v. 

2  The  schooner  Duke  of  Gloucester,  14,   was  captured  at  York,  now  Toronto, 
capital  of  Upper  Canada,  when  that  place  was  taken  by  a  land  and  naval  force  under 
Gen.   Pike  and  Commodore  Isaac  Chauncey,  on  the   25th  of  April,  1813.     A  royal 
standard  was  captured  at  the  same  time.     [Description  of  Flags  in  the  Gunnery  room 
of  the  U.S.   Naval   Academy,  Annapolis,  Md.,  1871.]      This   is   probably  the  only 
instance  of  the  royal  standard  of  the  united  kingdom  having  come  into  the    posses- 
sion of  an  enemy. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  93 

The  kingdom  of  Hanover  has  since  been  incorporated  with 
the  empire  of  Germany. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  alluding  to  the  royal  banner  of  Scotland, 
says  that  upon  it, 

"  The  ruddy  lion  ramps  in  gold." 

The  Scottish  lion  being  rampant  gules  on  a  field  or,  as  seen 
in  the  present  standard  of  the  united  kingdom. 

THE  UNION  JACK  OR  FLAG  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  The 
combination  of  the  crosses  of  St.  George  and  St.  Andrew  pro- 
duced the  first  union  jack,  which  was  declared  in  1606  by 
King  James  I,  to  constitute  the  national  ensign  of  Great  Britain, 
happily  symbolizing  the  union  of  England  and  Scotland,  in  the 
union  of  the  crosses  of  the  two  realms.  In  1801,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  legislative  union  with  Ireland,  a  second  union 
ensign  superseded  its  predecessor.  The  new  compound  device 
was  required  to  comprehend  the  three  crosses  of  St.  George,  St. 
Andrew  and  St.  Patrick  in  combination.  (Plate  II.)  The  blazonry 
of  this  second  union  jack  is  borne  by  the  Duke  of  Wellington 
charged  upon  a  shield  of  pretence  over  his  paternal  arms,  as  an 
"  augmentation  of  honor "  significant  and  expressive.  The 
Duke  of  Marlborough  bears  in  like  manner,  the  cross  of  St. 
George  upon  a  canton  in  commemoration  of  the  services  of  his 
ancestor. 

At  what  time  or  for  what  reason  the  name  of  jack  was  given  to 
this  flag  is  conjectural  by  the  old  historians,  but  in  old  records 
it  is  almost  universally  styled  the  UNION  FLAG.  Some  have 
attributed  the  name  to  the  upper  part  of  a  trooper's  armor 
being  so  named,  which  name  was  transferred  during  the  time  of 
the  Crusades  to  the  St.  George's  cross  on  a  white  field  which 
the  soldiers  wore  over  their  armor  both  before  and  behind. 
Others  think  that  the  new  flag  received  this  name  in  honor  of 
James  I,  the  abbreviation  of  whose  signature  Jac^  they  say  it 
is.  The  name  is  mentioned  in  1673,  in  the  English  treaty  with  the 
Dutch,  which  obliges  "all  Dutch  ships  or  squadrons  of 
war  meeting  those  of  Great  Britain,  carrying  the  king's  flag 
called  the  jack  within  certain  seas  and  bounds  to  strike  their 
topsail  and  lower  their  flag  with  like  ceremony  and  respect  as 
heretofore  by  Dutch  ships  to  those  of  the  king  of  England  or 
his  ancestors." 


94  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  royal  ordinance  establishing  the  first  union  jack  is  as 
follows : 

"  Whereas  some  differences  hath  arisen  between  our  subjects 
of  South  and  North  Britain,  travelling  by  sea,  about  the  bearing 
of  their  flags;  for  the  avoiding  of  all  such  contentions  hereafter, 
we  have,  with  the  advice  of  our  council,  ordered  from  henceforth 
all  our  subjects  of  this  Isle  and  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and 
the  members  thereof,  shall  bear  in  the  main  top  the  red  cross, 
commonly  called  St.  George's  cross,  and  the  white  cross  com- 
monly called  St.  Andrew's  cross,  joined  together,  according  to  a 
form  made  by  our  heralds  ;  and  sent  by  us  to  our  admiral,  to  be 
published  to  our  said  subjects ;  and  in  the  foretop  our  subjects 
of  South  Britain  (England)  shall  wear  the  red  cross  only,  as  they 
were  wont ;  and  our  subjects  of  North  Britain  (Scotland)  in  the 
foretop  the  white  cross  only,  as  they  were  accustomed,  where- 
fore we  will  and  command  all  our  subjects  to  be  conformable 
and  obedient  to  this  our  order,  and  that  from  henceforth  they 
do  not  use  or  bear  their  flags  in  any  other  sort,  as  they  will 
answer  to  the  contrary  at  their  peril. 

"  Given  at  our  Palace  this  I2th  day  of  April,  4th  lacques, 
A.  D.  1606.'" 

There  are  instances  in  which  this  union  flag  is  represented,  with 
the  St.  George's  cross  forming  the  entire  head,  and  the  St.  Andrew's 
the  entire  fly.  There  is  no  drawing  extant  "  of  the  form  made 
by  the  heralds  "  sent  to  the  admiral  to  be  published,  but  as  the 
paintings  of  Vandervelde  and  others  show  on  the  bowsprits  of 
vessels  of  war,  the  flag  known  as  the  union  jack,  to  which  the 
cross  of  St.  Patrick  was  added  in  1801,  it  is  presumptive  proof 
that  such  was  the  form  of  union  devised  by  the  heralds.  In  a 
drawing  of  the  Duke  of  York's  yacht,  visiting  the  fleet  in  the  Med- 
way  painted  by  Vandervelde,  preserved  in  the  British  Museum, 
all  the  ensigns  have  merely  a  red  cross  in  a  canton,  but  every 
bowsprit  is  furnished  with  a  union  jack,  and  two  of  the  largest 
ships  carry  it  aloft,  one  the  Breda  at  the  main,  and  another  at 
the  mizzen.  There  is  also  an  admiral's  ship  with  the  white  at 
the  main. 

In  a  paper,  dated  Friday,  the  I4th  Jan.,  1652,  given,  "  By  the 
commissioners  for  ordering  and  managing  ye  affairs  of  the  Ad- 

1  United  Service  Journal. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  95 

miralty  and  Navy,"  ordering  what  flag  shall  be  worn  by  various 
flag  officers,  it  is  ordered  "  all  the  shipps  to  wear  jacks  as 
formerly." 

The  king's  proclamation  Jan.  i,  1801,  establishing  and  ordering 
the  present  red  ensign,  known  as  the  "Meteor  flag  of  old 
England,"  to  be  worn  by  all  the  merchant  ships  of  the  kingdom  in- 
stead of  the  ensign  before  that  time  usually  worn  by  them,  goes 
on  to  say,  "  to  the  end  that  none  of  our  subjects  may  presume 
on  board  their  ships  to  wear  our  flags,  jacks. and  pendants  which, 
according  to  ancient  usage,  have  been  appointed  as  a  distinction 
to  our  ships,  or  any  flags,  jacks  or  pendants  in  shape  or  mixture 
of  colors  so  far  resembling  ours,  as  not  to  be  easily  distinguished 
therefrom,  we  do,  with  the  advice  of  our  privy  council,  hereby 
strictly  charge  and  command  all  our  subjects  whatsoever  that 
they  do  not  presume  to  wear  on  any  of  their  ships  or  vessels, 
our  jack  commonly  called  the  union  jack,  nor  any  pendants, 
nor  any  such  colors  as  are  usually  borne  by  our  ships  without 
particular  warrant  for  their  so  doing  from  us,  or  our  high  admiral 
of  Great  Britain,  or  the  commissioners  for  executing  the  office  of 
high  admiral  for  the  time  being  ;  and  we  do  hereby  also  further 
command  all  our  loving  subjects,  that  without  such  warrant  as 
aforesaid,  they  presume  not  to  wear  on  board  their  ships  or  ves- 
sels, any  flags,  jacks,  pendants  or  colors  made  in  imitation  of 
or  resembling  ours,  or  any  kind  of  pendants  whatsoever,  or  any 
other  ensign,  than  the  ensign  described  on  the  side  or  margin 
hereof,"  &c.  The  proclamation  then  proceeds  to  except  from 
this  order  certain  vessels  temporarily  employed  by  the  govern- 
ment, which  are  to  "  wear  a  red  jack  with  a  union  jack  described 
in  a  canton  at  the  upper  corner  thereof,  next  the  staff."  All 
merchant  ships  displaying  the  union  jack,  &c.,  were  to  have  their 
colors  seized,  and  the  masters  and  commanders  and  other  per- 
sons so  offending  were  to  be  duly  punished.  This  union  flag 
or  jack  was  worn,  and  continues  to  be  worn  on  the  bowsprit 
of  all  ships  of  war.  Is  also  worn  by  the  admiral  of  the  fleet  at  the 
main  royal  mast  head  of  his  flag  ship,  and  is  the  common  garrison 
color  hoisted  over  all  the  forts  belonging  to  her  majesty's  dominions. 
It  is  heraldically  described  thus:  The  crosses  of  St.  George  and  St. 
Andrew,  on  fields  argent  and  azure,  azure,  the  crosses  saltiere 
of  St.  Andrew  and  St.  Patrick  quarterly,  per  saltiere  counter 


96  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

charged  argent   and  gules,  the  latter   fimbriated  of  the   second, 
surmounted  by  the  cross  of  St.  George,  fimbriated  as  the  saltiere."1 

In  1823  it  was  royally  ordained  that  no  merchant  ship  or 
vessel  should  carry  the  union  jack,  unless  it  was  borderedon 
all  sides  with  white,  equal  in  breadth  to  one-fifth  of  the  breadth 
of  the  jack  exclusive  of  the  border.  The  penalty  for  using  the 
royal  union  jack  on  board  a  merchant  vessel  is  .£500. 

The  military  flags  of  Great  Britain  now  in  use  may  be  grouped 
in  the  two  grand  divisions  of  cavalry  banners  (they  are  styled 
STANDARDS,  but  they  are  and  ought  to  be  banners),  and 
infantry  colors.  The  banners  of  the  cavalry  are  small  in  size  ; 
their  color  is  determined  by  the  color  of  the  regimental  facings  ; 
they  are  charged  with  the  cypher,  number,  peculiar  heraldic 
insignia,  and  the  honors  (such  as  Waterloo,  Alma,  Solferino,  etc.), 
of  each  regiment.  The  banners  of  the  household  cavalry,  how- 
ever, are  all  crimson,  and  are  richly  embroidered  with  the  royal 
insignia  of  England. 

Every  infantry  regiment  or  battalion  of  the  line  has  its  own 
"  pair  of  colors."  Of  these,  one  is  the  queen's  color,  a  union 
jack  charged  with  some  of  the  regimental  devices,  the  other  is  the 
regimental  color,  and  its  field  is  of  the  same  tincture  as  the 
facings;  it  is  combined  with  a  small  jack,  and  bears  the  cypher, 
number,  device,  motto,  and  honors  of  the  corps.  At  first,  each 
infantry  regiment  had  one  color  only  ;  then  there  were  three 
to  each  regiment.  In  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  the  colors 
were  reduced  to  their  present  number,  a  "  pair."  The  colors  of 
the  Foot  Guards  reverse  the  arrangement  of  those  of  the  line. 
Their  queen's  color  is  crimson,  either  with  or  without  a  can- 
toned jack,  but  always  charged  with  the  royal  cypher  and  crown, 
and  the  regimental  devices.  The  regimental  color  of  the 
Guards  is  the  union  jack.  The  Guards  also  have  small  company 
colors. 

The  royal  artillery  and  rifles  of  the  line  have  no  colors.  The 
volunteer  regiments  have  at  present  been  left  to  determine  both 
whether  they  shall  carry  colors,  and  also  what  shall  be  the 
character  of  the  colors  whenever  they  decide  to  adopt  them. 
What  may  be  termed  the  volunteer  banner,  is  worthy  of  the 

1  British  Naval  Chronicle,  vol.  V,  pp.  64,  65. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  97 

force.  It  is  charged  with  the  figures  of  an  archer  of  the  olden 
time  and  a  rifleman  of  to-day,  with  the  motto  Defence^  not  de- 
fiance.* 

In  the  military  hospital  at  Chelsea  there  is  preserved  a  large 
number  of  military  trophies,  and  among  them  the  following 
American  flags  : 

1.  An  American  national  color  of  2d   regiment   of  the  line 
taken  by  Gen.  Brock  on  the  frontier. 

2.  An  American  flag  when  taken  probably  in  the  revolutionary 
war. 

3.  An  American  flag  the  same  as  the  above. 

4.  A  regimental  color  of  the  4th  American  regiment. 

5.  An  American  flag  taken  by  the  85th  regiment  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  Mississippi. 

6.  An  American  flag,  taken  in  the  first  war  probably  at  Boston. 

7.  An  American  regimental  flag  of  the  ad  regiment.2 

The  flag  which  floated  over  the  Nelson  column  in  Trafalgar 
square  in  1844,  was  part  of  the  ensign  which  thirty-eight  years 
before  waved  over  the  immortal  hero  on  the  memorable  day 
of  his  last  great  achievement  and  death.3 

A  gentleman  residing  at  Sacramento,  California,  has  in  his 
possession  a  genuine  flag  of  Old  Erin,  a  banner  of  green,  with  a 
golden  harp  in  the  centre.  It  is  the  identical  banner  carried  by 
the  rebels  of  1789  in  Ireland,  and  most  notably  at  the  siege  of 
Drogheda.  It  was  brought  to  the  United  States  by  the  father 
of  its  present  possessor,  James  Gildea.  The  flag  is  thirty  feet 
long  by  ten  wide  and  has  been  well  preserved.4 

An  idea  was  long  entertained  in  England  that  the  admiral's 
red  flag  had  been  taken  or  stolen  from  the  main  masthead  of 
the  admiral's  ship,  and  that  the  Dutch  obtained  that  trophy  in 
one  of  the  battles  between  Blake  and  Van  Tromp.  It  was  a 
mistaken  notion,  for  the  red  flag  was  .and  never  has  been  taken 
or  surrendered.  The  last  admiral  who  wore  it  before  it  was  re- 


lBouteWs  Heraldry. 

2  Army  and  Navy  Chronicle,  from  a  London  paper,  1836.      The  American  ensign 
of  the   Canadian   rebel   steamer  Caroline  is    preserved   in  the  museum  of  the  Royal 
Military  and  Naval  Institute,  Scotland  Yard,  London. 

3  London  Nautical  Magazine ,  1844.  *  ValUy"*  Cal.  Chronicle,  Oct.  28,  1871. 

13 


98  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Stored  to  the  navy  by  the  creation  of  a  batch  of  admirals  and 
rear  and  vice  admirals  of  the  red  after  the  battle  of  Trafalgar, 
Oct.  21,  1805,  was  Sir  George  Rooke  as  admiral  of  the  fleet, 
when  commander  of  the  combined  forces  of  England  and  Hol- 
land in  the  Mediterranean  in  1703.  Upon  the  union  of  England 
with  Scotland,  the  red  flag  was  discontinued  to  be  worn,  and  the 
union  jack  superseded  the  red  flag  at  the  main,  as  the  distin- 
guishing flag  of  the  admiral  of  the  fleet.1 

Up  to  1864,  the  royal  navy  wore  ensigns  of  the  three  colors 
red,  white  or  blue,  according  to  the  rank  of  the  officer  com- 
manding. In  that  year,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  admi- 
ralty circular,  the  white  ensign  was  alone  reserved  for  the  royal 
navy,  the  blue  and  red  ensigns  being  given  up  to  the  use  of  the 
naval  reserve  and  merchant's  marine,  and  at  the  same,  the  seve- 
ral grades  of  admirals  cf  the  red  and  blue  merged,  under  the  white 
ensign  with  St.  George's  red  cross  on  a  white  field,  the  white 
ensign  for  a  distinguishing  flag. 

DISTINGUISHING  FLAGS  AND  PENNANTS. 

Her  majesty  has  been  graciously  pleased,  by  her  order  in  council,  to 
direct  that  the  classification  of  flag  officers  under  the  denomination  of  the 
red,  white,  and  blue  squadrons,  shall  be  discontinued,  and  that  the  follow- 
ing regulations  shall  be  henceforward  established  in  regard  to  distinguish- 
ing flags  and  colors  : 

DISTINGUISHING  FLAGS. 

Admirals,  vice-admirals,  and  rear  admirals  shall,  in  future,  wear  re- 
spectively a  white  flag,  with  the  red  St.  George's  cross  therein,  at  the 
main,  fore,  or  mizzentop-gallant  mast-head. 

In  boats  and  tenders  with  less  than  three  masts,  vice-admiral's  flags 
shall  be  distinguished  by  one  red  ball  in  the  upper  part  of  the  flag,  near 
the  staff,  and  rear  admiral's  by  two  such  balls. 

DISTINGUISHING  PENNANTS. 

Commodores  of  the  1st  class  shall  wear  a  white  broad  pennant,  with  a 
red  St.  George's  cross  therein,  at  the  main-top  gallant  mast-head. 

Commodores  of  the  zd  class  a  similar  broad  pennant  at  the  foretop- 
gallant  mast-head. 

When  two  or  more  of  her  majesty's  ships  are  present  in  ports  or  road- 


1  British  Naval  Chronicle,  1805,  also  1816. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  99 

steads,  a  small  broad  pennant  (white,  with  a   St.  George's  cross)  is  to  be 
hoisted  at  the  mizentop-gallant  mast-head  of  the  ship  of  the  senior  officer. 

When  more  than  one  commodore  of  the  1st  class  shall  be  present,  the 
junior  commodore  shall  wear  such  distinguishing  mark  or  pennant  as  the 
commander-in-chief  (or  senior  officer)  may  order,  under  the  authority 
given  by  article  8,  section  IX,  chapter  2. 

Commodores  of  the  zd  class,  when  carrying  their  pennants  in  boats  and 
tenders,  shall  be  distinguished  by  a  red  ball  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
pennant  next  the  mast. 

The  fly  of  the  long  pennant  for  her  majesty's  ships  shall  be,  in  future, 
white. 

COLORS,  NAVY. 

All  her  majesty's  ships  of  war  in  commission  shall  bear  a  white  ensign, 
with  a  red  St.  George's  cross  and  the  union  in  the  upper  canton. 

COLORS,  NOT  NAVY. 

Merchant  ships  and  vessels  employed  in  the  service  of  any  public  office 
shall  carry  the  blue  ensign  and  a  small  blue  flag  with  the  Union  described 
therein,  as  prescribed,  blue  being  substituted  for  red. 

The  blue  ensign  and  union  jack  with  a  white  border  may  be  borne  by 
ships  and  vessels  commanded  by  officers  of  the  Royal  Naval  Reserve 
Force,  and  fulfilling  in  other  respects  the  conditions  required  to  entitle 
them  to  the  privilege.1 


1  CONDITIONS.  The  commander  must  be  an  officer  of  the  royal  naval  reserve,  and 
10  of  the  crew  must  be  royal  naval  reserve  men. 

One  third  part  of  the  seamen  of  the  crew  must  be  men  belonging  to  the  royal 
naval  reserve. 

Before  hoisting  the  blue  ensign  the  ship  must  be  provided  with  an  admiralty  warrant. 

Ships  failing  to  fulfil  the  above  conditions,  unless  such  failure  is  caused  by  death  or 
other  circumstances  over  which  the  owners  have  no  control,  will  no  longer  be  entitled 
to  wear  the  blue  ensign. 

The  ship,  if  fitted  by  the  shipowners  with  magazines  for  the  ammunition,  will  be 
supplied  on  demand  with  an  armament  (as  per  scale). 

The  owners  must  undertake  that  the  guns,  stores,  and  ammunition  be  taken  care 
of  by  the  officer  R.  N.  R.  Commanding,  and  that  the  guns  and  stores  be  returned 
as  far  as  possible  in  good  order,  in  such  manner  and  at  such  times  and  places  as  the 
admiralty  may  direct. 

Carrying  guns  is  left  optional  with  the  shipowner,  but  a  privilege  in  respect  of  drill 
will  be  given  to  officers  and  men  who  have  sailed  from  a  port  in  the  united  kingdom 
during  the  year,  and  have  been  drilled  on  board  ships  carrying  guns  and  the  blue 
ensign.  Such  officers  and  men  will  only  be  subjected  to  a  test  drill  of  two  days,  on 
board  one  of  her  majesty's  drill  ships,  which,  if  they  pass  satisfactorily,  will  entitle 
them  to  release  from  further  attendance  at  drill  that  year. 

Officers  commanding  H.  M.  ships  meeting  with  ships  carrying  the  blue  ensign  will 
be  authorized  to  go  on  board  such  ships,  at  any  convenient  opportunity,  and  see  that 
these  conditions  are  strictly  carried  out,  provided  that  they  are  superior  in  rank  to  the 
officer  R.  N.  R. 

Applications  for  permission  to  wear  the  blue  ensign  will  be  forwarded  to  the  ad- 
miralty from  the  lords  of  the  committee  of  privy  council  for  trade,  who  will  issue 
regulations  as  to  the  mode  of  proceeding. 


1QO      ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE  FLAG  OF  THE  U.  S. 

The  red  ensign  and  union  jack  with  a  white  border  are  to  continue, 
the  national  colors  for  all  other  British  ships,  with  the  exception  of  yachts 
and  such  other  vessels  as  their  lordships  may  from  time  to  time  authorize 
to  bear  distinguishing  flags. 

All  regulations  not  conflicting  with  the  foregoing  remain  in  force. 

By  command  of  their  Lordships : 
Admiralty,  5th  August,  1864. 

C.  PAGET. 


PL   Ml 


FLAGS    OF  AMERICAN    STATES     See 


MEXICO.  "      SAKI  DOMINGO  HAITI  '  U.S.orCOLUMBIA 


HONDURAS  II     NICARAGUA          |!    COSTA  RICA  I       BRAZIL 


V 


PARAGUAY  H  .GUATEMALA  U D M J RAl  BRA1I L      I  SAN  SALVADOR 

m  -  a-  .  it- 


VENEZUELA         I    ARGENTINE 


ECUADOR  PARAGUAY  ADMIRAL 


PERSIA 


FLAGS   OP  ORIENTAL  NATIONS. 


JAPAN  CHINA  51AM 


PACIFIC          ISLANDS. 


AFRICA 


HAWAII  r\Hl^;  II  NEW  ZEALAND         >l        LIBERIA 


Tfwse  Flags  marked-  y<  are.  tnaji^of-tvar  flag**  MfrdvoJitmen,  liarc  tiia  ^cune-  witliout  tiir 

a,  •nt~   or  denci*. 


PART       II 

A.  D.   860-1777. 


THE  EARLY  DISCOVERIES  OF  AMERICA,  AND  THE  FIRST  BAN- 
NER PLANTED  ON  ITS  SHORES, 

A.    D.    860-1634. 


COLONIAL  AND  PROVINCIAL  FLAGS, 
1634-1766. 


FLAGS  OF    THE    PREREVOLUTIONARY  AND    REVOLUTIONARY 
PERIOD,  PRECEDING  THE  STARS  AND  STRIPES, 

1766-1777. 


And  then  the  blue-eyed  Norseman  told 
A  saga  of  the  days  of  old, 
There  is,  said  he,  a  wondrous  book 
Of  the  dead  kings  of  Norroway, — 
Of  legends  in  the  old  Norse  tongue, 
Legends  that  once  were  told  or  sung 
In  many  a  smoky  fire-side  nook. 


And  he  who  looks  therein  may  find 

The  story  that  I  now  begin. — Longfellow. 

Far  o'er  yon  azure  main  thy  view  extend, 

Where  seas  and  skies  in  blue  confusion  blend  : 

Lo  !  there  a  mighty  realm,  by  Heaven  designed 

The  last  retreat  for,  poor  oppress'd  mankind  j 

Formed  with  that  pomp  which  marks  the  hand  divine, 

And  clothes  yon  vault  where  worlds  unnumbered  shine. 

Here  spacious  plains  in  solemn  grandeur  spread, 

Here  cloudy  forests  cast  eternal  shade  j 

Rich  valleys  wind,  the  sky  tall  mountains  brave, 

And  inland  seas  for  commerce  spread  the  wave. 

With  noble  floods,  the  sea  like  rivers  roll, 

And  fairer  lustre  purples  round  the  pole. 

Here,  warmed  by  happy  suns  gay  mines  unfold 

The  useful  iron  and  the  lasting  gold ; 

Pure,  changing  gems  in  silence  learn  to  glow, 

And  mock  the  splendors  of  the  covenant  bow. 


Far  from  all  realms  this  world  imperial  lies 
Seas  roll  between  and  threat'ning  tempests  rise, 
Alike  removed  beyond  ambition's  pale, 
And  the  bold  pinions  of  the  venturous  sail  j 
Till  circling  years  the  destined  period  bring, 
And  a  new  MOSES  lift  the  daring  wing. 


On  yon  fair  strand  behold  that  little  train 
Ascending  venturous  o'er  the  unmeasured  main  j 
No  dangers  fright,  no  ills  the  course  delay  j 
Tis  virtue  prompts,  and  God  directs  the  -way. 

*       *       4       *       *      ,* 

Here  empire's  last  and  brighest  throne  shall  rise, 
And  peace,  and  right  and  freedom  greet  the  skies  j 
To  morn's  fair  realms  her  trading  ships  shall  sail 
Or  lift  their  canvas  to  the  evening  gale  : 
In  wisdom's  walks  her  sons  ambitious  soar, 
Tread  starry  fields,  and  untried  scenes  explore, 
And  hark  !  what  strange,  what  solemn  breaking  strain 
Swells,  wildly  murmuring  o'er  the  far,  far  main  ! 
Down  time's  long  lessening  vale  the  notes  decay, 
And  lost  in  distant  ages  roll  away. 
Timothy  Diuighfs  Prophecy  of  America,  written  1771-1774. 


PART     II. 


THE  EARLY  DISCOVERIES  OF  AMERICA,  AND  THE 
FIRST  BANNER  PLANTED  ON  ITS  SHORES, 

A.   D.   860-1634. 

Expeditions  to  the  shores  of  North  America  are  said  to  have 
gone  forth  from  the  British  Isles  in  very  ancient  times,  and  even 
in  advance  of  the  Northmen  ;  first  under  the  conduct  of  Ma- 
doc,  a  prince  of  Wales,  and  afterwards  under  the  lead  of  Irish 
adventurers.  No  other  than  vague  traditionary  accounts  of 
these  expeditions  have  come  down  to  us,  but  records  of 
early  voyages  from  Iceland  have  been  found,  which  afford  the 
strongest  circumstantial  evidence  that  the  New  England  coast 
was  visited,  and  that  settlements  thereon  were  attempted  by 
Scandinavian  navigators  full  five  hundred  years  before  the  first 
voyage  of  Columbus. 

Naddod,  a  Scandinavian  called  the  Sea  king,  in  the  year  860, 
and  Gardar,  a  Dane,  soon  after,  are  said  to  be  the  first  Northmen 
who,  driven  by  storms,  came  in  sight  of  Iceland,  and  reconnoitered 
it.  The  good  news  they  brought  home  induced  others  to  follow 
in  their  track,  and  the  Northman,  Ingolf,  A.D.,  874,  was  the  first 
who  settled  there.  He  and  his  men  found  there  the  Christian  Irish- 
men, the  Papas  or  Papar,  whom  they  dispossessed  and  drove  out. 

In  877  another  north-east  storm  drove  one  of  these  Icelandic 
settlers,  named  Gunnbjorn,  to  Greenland,  which  he  appears  only 
to  have  seen  in  the  distance.  It  was  a  long  time  before  any  other 
adventurer  followed  in  his  track.  At  last,  in  the  spring  of  986, 
Eric  the  Red  sailed  from  Iceland  with  the  intention  of  seeking 
for  Gunnbjorn's  country.  Having  found  it,  he  established  a  settle- 
ment he  called  Brattalid,ina  bay  which  after  him  was  called  Eric's 
Fiord.  He  found  the  country  pleasant,  full  of  meadows,  and  of 
a  milder  climate  than  the  more  northern  Iceland.  He  gave  it 
the  name  of  Greenland,  saying  that  this  would  be  an  inviting  name, 


104  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

which  might  attract  other  people  from  Iceland.  Another  ad- 
venturer, Heriulf,  soon  followed  him,  and  established  himself  not 
far  from  our  present  Cape  Farewell,  at  a  place  which  after  him 
was  called  Heriulfanas. 

Heriulf  had  a  son,  Biarne,  who  when  his  father  went  first  to 
Greenland,  was  absent  on  a  trading  voyage  to  Norway.  Re- 
turning to  Iceland  in  990  and  finding  his  father  with  Eric  the 
Red  had  gone  to  the  west,  he  resolved  to  follow  them,  and  to 
spend  the  next  winter  in  Greenland. 

Boldly  setting  sail  to  the  south-west,  he  encountered  northerly 
storms  ;  after  many  days  sail  they  lost  their  reckoning  or  course, 
and  when  the  weather  cleared  descried  land,  but  entirely  unlike 
that  described  to  them  as  Greenland.  They  saw  it  was  a 
much  more  southern  land,  and  covered  with  forests.  It  not  being 
the  intention  of  Biarne  to  explore  new  countries,  but  to  find  his 
father  in  Greenland,  he  improved  a  south-west  wind  and  turned 
to  the  north-east,  and  after  several  days  sailing  by  other  well 
wooded  lands  bordered  by  icebergs  reached  Heriulfnas.  His 
return  passage  occupied  nine  days,  and  he  speaks  of  three  dis- 
tinct tracts  of  land  along  which  he  coasted,  one  of  which  he 
supposed  to  have  been  a  large  island. 

The  results  of  the  expedition  of  Biarne  may  be  stated  to  have 
been  these  :  He  was  the  first  European  who  saw  though  from  a 
distance  and  very  cursorily,  some  parts  of  the  coasts  of  New 
England,  Nova  Scotia  and  Newfoundland.  He  also  probably 
crossed  the  Gulf  of  Maine,  without  stopping  however  to  explore 
its  waters,  or  giving  them  names.  When  he  returned  to  Nor- 
way (probably  in  994),  he  was  blamed  by  many  for  not  having 
examined  the  new  found  countries  more  accurately. 

In  Greenland,  too,  there  was  much  talk  about  undertaking  a 
voyage  of  discovery  to  the  west.  Leif,  the  son  of  Eric  the  Red, 
the  first  settler*  in  Greenland,  having  bought  Biarne's  ship  in  the 
year  1000,  equipped  her  with  a  crew  of  thirty-five  men,  among 
whom  was  Biarne  himself,  and  went  out  on  Biarne's  track  to  the 
south-west.  They  anchored  and  went  on  shore  at  what  was 
probably  Newfoundland,  and  after  a  brief  delay  pursued  their 
voyage  and  came  to  a  low  wooded  coast  with  shores  of  white 
sand,  which  they  named  Markland,  (woodland)  our  present 
Nova  Scotia.  Continuing  their  course,  in  two  days  they  again 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  _[Q5 

made  land,  a  promontory  projecting  in  a  north-easterly  direction 
from  the  main,  corresponding  pretty  well  to  our  present  Cape 
Cod. 

Leif  rounding  this  cape   to    the    west,  sailed  some    distance 
westward,  entered  a  bay  or  harbor,  and  went  on  shore.     Find- 
ing  the    country    very  pleasant,    he    concluded    to  spend    the 
winter  there,  and  formed  a  settlement  which  was  called  Leifsbu- 
dir  (LeiPs  block  house  or  dwelling).     It  is  with  a  great  degree 
of  probability  supposed  that  this  settlement  was  on  the    south 
coast  of  Rhode  Island  somewhere  in  Narragansett  bay,  perhaps 
not  far  from  Newport.     Leif  and  his  men  made  several   ex- 
ploring expeditions  to  the  interior.     On  one  of  these,  a  German, 
named  Tyrker,  who  had  long  resided  with  LeiPs  father  in  Ice- 
land and  Greenland,  lost  his  way  and  was  missing.     Leif  with 
some  of  his  men  went  in  search  of  him,  and  had  not  gone  far, 
when  they  saw  him  stepping  out  from  a  wood,   holding  some- 
thing in  his  hands  and  coming  towards  them,  very  much  excited 
and  speaking  in  German.     At  last  he  told  them  in  true  Norse 
"  I  found  vines  and  grapes,"  showing  them  what  he  held  in  his 
hands.     Leif,  being  an  Icelander  and  Greenlander,  had  probably 
never  seen  fresh  grapes,  and  asked  "  Is  that  true,  my  friend  ?  " 
and  then  Tyrker  said  that  he  might  well  know  they  were  real 
grapes  having  been  born  and  educated  in  a  country  in  which  there 
were  plenty  of  vines.     The  Northmen  collected  their  long  boat 
full  of  grapes,  and  from  this  circumstance  Leif  gave  his  new 
southern  country  the  name  of  Finland  (the  country  of  vines), 
which  was  afterwards  extended  to  the  whole  coast  as  far  north 
as  Markland  (Nova  Scotia).     During  the  winter  Leif  observed 
that  the  climate  of  Vinland  was  quite  mild,  and  that  throughout 
the  year  the  days  and  nights  were  much   more  equal  in  length 
than  in  Greenland.     On  the  shortest  day  in  Vinland  the  sun  was 
above  the  horizon  from  7  :  30  A.M.  to  4  :  30  P.M.     This  astro- 
nomical observation  confirms  the  generally  adopted   view,  that 
their   settlement    was  in  the  southern  part  of  New  England. 
Filling  their  vessel  with  wood  they  returned  to  Greenland   in 
the  spring. 

LeiPs  brother,  Thorwald,  being  of  opinion  the  new  country 
had  not  been  explored  sufficiently,  borrowed  LeiPs  ship,  and 
aided  by  his  advice  and  direction,  commenced  another  voyage  to 


106  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

this  country  in  1002.  Sailing  on  the  track  of  his  predecessors 
he  arrived  at  Leifbudir  in  Vinland,  and  spent  the  winter  in 
fishing  and  cutting  wood.  In  the  spring  he  sent  out  his  long 
boat  to  the  southward  on  a  voyage  of  discovery,  and  she  did  not 
return  until  the  fall  of  the  year.1 

The  next  year  (1004)  he  undertook  another  voyage,  and  visited, 
it  is  supposed,  the  coast  of  Maine  and  Cape  Cod,  and  had  a 
battle  with  the  aborigines,  it  is  supposed  near  the  harbor  of  Boston, 
and  that  this  first  battle  between  the  Europeans  and  American 
aborigines  was  fought  on  the  same  ground  wherein  modern  times 
were  fought  the  first  battles  of  the  American  colonists  with  the 
British  troops.  Of  course  the  victory  was  with  the  Euro- 
peans. After  the  victory,  Thorwald  asked  his  men  whether  any 
had  been  wounded.  Upon  their  denying  this  he  said  "  I  am  :  I 
have  an  arrow  under  my  arm  will  be  my  death  blow  !  "  Advising 
them  to  take  their  departure  as  soon  as  possible,  he  requested 
them  to  bury  him  on  a  hilly  promontory  overgrown  with  wood 
which  he  had  previously  selected  as  his  abode,  saying  :  "  I  was 
a  prophet,  for  now  I  shall  dwell  there  forever.  There  you  shall 
bury  me,  and  plant  there  two  crosses,  one  at  my  head  and  one  at 
my  feet,  and  call  the  place  Krossances,  the  promontory  of  the 


1  These  events  were  about  the  time  of  the  never  to  be  forgotten  massacre  of  the 
Danes  in  England  and  the  revengeful  invasion  of  the  English  coast  by  Sweyne,  whose 
sister  Gunhilda  had  been  put  to  death  with  her  husband  and  son,  in  the  presence  and 
by  command  of  Edric  Streone,  one  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  chieftains.  He  ravaged  De- 
vonshire, Dorsetshire  and  Wiltshire,  as  also,  other  parts  and  burnt  several  towns  until 
Etheldred  was  glad  to  purchase  a  two  years  respite  at  a  cost  of  £36,000,  equivalent  to 
the  worth  of  720,000  acres  of  land  at  that  time.  He  was  also  compelled  to  feed  his 
invaders. —  Southey^s  Naval  History. 

The  Danish  ships  with  which  Sweyne,  or  Swaen,  made  his  descent  upon  the  Eng- 
lish coast  in  1004,  have  been  described  with  some  minuteness  by  contemporary  chro- 
niclers, and  afford  us  some  idea  of  the  vessels  in  which  Leif  and  his  brother  Thorwald 
sailed  along  the  American  coast. 

Each  vessel,  says  Sir  N.  Harris  Nicolas  (History  of  the  Royal  Navy,  vol.  l),  copy- 
ing from  the  cotemporaneous  chronicles,  had  a  high  deck  and  bore  a  distinctive  em- 
blem indicating  its  commander,  similar  in  its  object  probably  to  the  banners  of  later 
chieftains.  The  prows  of  the  ships  were  ornamented  with  figures  of  lions,  bulls,  dol- 
phins, and  of  men,  made  of  copper  gilt,  and  at  the  mastheads  of  others  were  vanes  in  the 
shape  of  birds  with  expanded  wings,  showing  the  quarter  whence  the  wind  blew. 
Their  sides  were  painted  with  various  colors,  and  the  shields  of  the  soldiers  of  polished 
steel  were  placed  in  rows  around  the  gunwales.  Sweyne's  own  ship,  which  was 
called  the  Great  Dragon,  is  said  to  have  been  built  in  the  form  of  the  animal  whose 
name  it  bore  5  its  head  forming  the  prow,  and  its  tail  the  stern.  The  mysterious 
Scandinavian  standard  of  white  silk  having  in  its  centre  a  raven,  with  extended  wings 
and  beak  open,  the  supposed  ensurer  of  victory,  which  had  been  embroidered  by  three 
of  Sweyn's  sisters  in  one  night  amidst  charms  and  magical  incantations,  (see  page  64), 
was  on  board  his  ship,  but  it  was  not  displayed  until  he  landed  in  England." 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  107 

crosses,  for  all  time  coming."  x  Thorwald  upon  this  died,  and  his 
men  did  as  he  had  ordered  them. 

Thorwald's  men  returned  to  the  settlement  at  Leifsbudir,  and 
spent  with  them  the  following  winter.  But  in  the  spring  of 
1005,  having  collected  a  cargo  of  wood,  furs  and  dried  grapes, 
they  sailed  to  Greenland.  The  results  of  Thorwald's  expedition 
were,  that  he  and  his  men  staid  on  the  coast  of  New  England 
nearly  two  years  principally  occupied  in  explorations.  They 
sailed  along  the  south  coast  of  New  England  towards  and  per- 
haps beyond  New  York.  They  recognized  and  described  more 
minutely  the  important  headlands  of  Cape  Cod,  and  gave  it  the 
appropriate  name  of  Kiarlarnes  (Ship  nose).  They  intended 
an  expedition  along  the  coast  of  New  England  toward  the 
north,  which  was  turned  back  near  the  harbor  of  Boston  by  the 
death  of  Thorwald. 

The  next  voyager  was  Thorstein,  Eric's  third  son,  who  re- 
solved to  proceed  to  Vinland  in  his  brother's  ship  with  twenty- 
five  able  and  strong  men,  to  obtain  his  brother's  body.  His 
wife  Gudreda,  a  woman  of  energy  and  prudence,,  accompanied 
him.  They  got  no  farther  than  Greenland  when  a  sickness 
broke  out.  Thorstein  and  others  died,  and  Gudreda  returned 
with  the  ship  to  Eric's  fiord  on  the  southern  coast  of  Green- 
land. In  the  following  summer  (1006),  two  ships  arrived  at 
Eric's  fiord  from  Iceland.  Thorfinn,  a  wealthy  and  powerful 
man  of  illustrious  lineage,  who  commanded  one  of  them,  fell  in 
love  with  Gudreda,  the  widow  of  Thorstein,  and  married  her. 
Thorfinn,  urged  by  his  wife  and  by  others,  resolved  to  undertake 
a  voyage  to  the  south,  and  in  the  summer  of  1007,  prepared 
three  ships,  their  united  companies  amounting  in  all  to  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  men,  and  with  the  intention  of  colonizing  in  the 
new  and  beautiful  land,  took  all  kinds  of  live  stock  along. 
They  sailed  in  the  spring  of  1008,  and  were  the  first  European 
navigators  that  made  a  coasting  voyage  along  the  coast  of  Maine, 
keeping  in  sight  of  the  land  until  they  came  to  Cape  Cod, 
which  from  its  long  sandy  beaches  and  downs  they  named 
Furder  strandr,  beaches  of  wonderful  length.  Their  settle- 
ment was  formed  near  Leifsbudir,  on  the  other  side  of  the 


1  Query.     May  not  this  have  been  the  promontory  near  the  Clifford  House  beyond 
Plymouth,  Mass.,  which  is  first  beyond  Cape  Cod  ? 


108  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

water,  at  a  place  which  pleased  Thorfinn  better,  and  which  was 
called  Thorfins-budir.  It  stood  near  a  small  recess  or  bay, 
called  by  them  hop  or  corner.  On  the  low  grounds  around 
this  hop,  they  found  fields  of  wheat  growing  wild,  and  in  the 
rising  ground  plenty  of  vines.  Here  Gudreda,  the  wife  of 
Thorfinn,  gave  birth  to  a  son  who  received  the  name  of  Snorre, 
who  may  be  considered  the  first  American  child  born  of  Euro- 
pean parents.  In  a  subsequent  attempt  to  explore  the  coast  of 
Maine,  Thorhall,  one  of  Thorfinn's  men,  was  driven  over  to  the 
coast  of  Ireland.  After  a  while,  discontent  and  dissensions  broke 
out  among  the  settlers,  and  Thorfinn  with  his  wife,  Gudreda, 
and  his  American  son,  Snorre,  then  three  years  of  age,  left  the 
country  together,  and  with  a  good  southerly  wind  returned  to 
Greenland.  It  is  probable  a  party  of  his  men  remained  behind 
and  continued  the  settlement  of  Vinland.  Thorfinn  never  re- 
turned there,  but  went  afterwards  to  Norway,  and  from 
thence  in  1014  to  Iceland  where  he  bought  him  an  estate  and 
resided  for  the  remainder  of  his  life  with  his  wife  and  son. 
After  his  death  and  the  marriage  of  Snorre,  his  widow  Gudreda 
made  a  pious  pilgrimage  to  Rome  where  she  was  received  with 
distinction.  She  afterwards  returned  to  her  son's  estate  in  Ice- 
land, where  Snorre  had  built  a  church,  and  where  after  all  her 
adventures  she  long  lived  as  a  religious  recluse. 

In  1 1 21  the  voyage  to  Vinland  of  a  bishop  of  Greenland 
named  Erik  is  mentioned  in  Icelandic  Annals.  The  fact  that 
such  a  high  ecclesiastical  functionary  should  go  to  Vinland, 
appears  to  be  good  proof  that  since  Thorfinn's  time,  Northmen 
settlers  or  traders  had  tarried  there.  Of  the  results  of  his  ex- 
pedition we  have  no  particular  information.  After  his  voyage 
we  hear  no  more  of  Vinland  for  more  than  one  hundred  years, 
nor  of  countries  south-west  of  Greenland.  Then  in  1285,  two 
Icelandic  clergymen,  Aldatrand  and  Thorwald  Helgason  visited 
on  the  west  of  Iceland,  "  a  new  land,"  and  some  years  afterwards 
the  king  of  Denmark  sent  out  a  ship  commanded  by  a  certain 
Rolfe  to  pay  a  visit  to  this  new  land,  supposed  to  have  been 
Newfoundland. 

Another  hundred  years  after  this  event,  the  Icelandic  Annals 
had  the  following  remarkable,  though  short  report :  "  In  the 
year  1347,  a  vessel  having  a  crew  of  seventeen  men  sailed  from 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  109 

Iceland  to  Markland."  From  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth 
century  down  to  the  modern  discovery  of  America  by  Columbus, 
Cabot,  and  others,  we  learn  no  more  of  Scandinavian  undertakings 
in  this  direction.  The  heroic  age  of  the  Northmen,  and  their 
power  and  spirit  of  enterprise  had  long  passed  by.1 

These  early  voyagers  left  no  traces  of  their  presence  on  the 
continent,  unless  it  shall  be  conceded  that  the  round  tower  at 
Newport,  about  the  origin  of  which,  history  and  tradition  are 
alike  silent,  was  built  by  them  :  it  stood  there  when  the  first 
English  people  visited  Rhode  island,  and  the  Narragansett  In- 
dians had  no  traditions  of  its  origin. 

Information  of  these  voyages  seems  not  to  have  spread  in 
Europe.  The  great  discovery  was  forgotten  or  remembered 
only  in  dim  traditionary  tales  of  the  exploits  of  these  old  sea 
kings  of  the  North  ;  or  these  new  lands  were  considered  a  part 
of  the  European  continent,  connected  along  the  ice-bound  re- 
gions of  the  north.  When  Columbus  conceived  the  grand  idea 
of  reaching  Asia  by  sailing  westward,  no  whisper  of  these  Scan- 
dinavian voyages  was  heard  in  Europe. 

It  is  almost  equally  certain  that  the  junks  and  boats  of  the 
Asiatic  nations  driven  by  storms  from  the  islands  and  coasts  of 
Asia,  drifting  along  on  the  recently  discovered  kiro-sima  or  black 
current,  which  skirts  the  coast  of  Japan  and  is  lost  in  the  Behring's 
straits,  and  which,  though  more  powerful,  answers  in  the  Pa- 
cific to  the  Gulf  stream  of  the  Atlantic,  were  thrown  upon  the 
Pacific  coast  of  America,  and  that  their  shipwrecked  crews  and 
passengers  found  their  way  into  the  interior  of  the  continent. 
It  seems  also  to  be  highly  probable  that  other  northern  Asiatics 
found  their  way  by  the  Aleutian  isles  and  Behring's  straits  from 
the  projecting  capes  of  Asia  to  our  Pacific  shores.  Some  refer 
the  origin  of  the  Indian  tribes  of  America  to  the  Phenicians  ; 
others  perceive  evidences  of  their  Egyptian  or  Hindoo  parentage, 
and  others  claim  they  are  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel  "  who  took 
counsel  to  go  forth  into  a  far  country  where  never  mankind 
dwelt." 

Within  almost  every  state  and  territory,  remains  of  human 
skill  and  labor  have  been  found,  which  seem  to  attest  the  ex- 

1  This  account  of  the  Scandinavian  voyagers  is  derived  chiefly  from  ist  vol.  of  the 
ad  series  of  the  Collections  of  the  Maine  Historical  Society,  containing  a  History  of  the 
Disco-very  of  Maine ,  by  J.  G.  Kohl,  published  in  1869. 


110 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


istence  here  of  a  civilized  nation  or  nations  before  the  ancestors 
of  the  present  Indian  tribes  became  masters  of  the  continent. 
Some  of  these  appear  to  give  evidence  of  intercourse  between 
the  people  of  the  old  world  and  those  of  America  centuries 
perhaps  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  and  at  periods  soon  after- 
wards.1 Remains  of  fortifications,  similar  in  form  to  those  of 
ancient  European  nations,  have  been  discovered  —  fire-places 
of  regular  structure,  weapons  and  utensils  of  copper  and  walls  of 
forts  and  cities.  A  Roman  coin  was  found  in  Missouri ;  a  Per- 
sian coin  in  Ohio  ;  a  bit  of  silver  in  Genesee,  N.  Y.,  with  the 
year  of  our  Lord  600  engraved  on  it,  etc.  Near  Montevideo, 
South  America,  a  tomb  was  found  in  which  were  two  ancient 
swords,  a  helmet  and  shield  with  Greek  inscriptions  showing 
they  were  made  in  the  time  of  Alexander  the  Great  330  years 
before  Christ. 

The  flags,  banners  or  standards  which  these  peoples  planted  upon 
the  shores  of  America  in  token  of  their  occupancy  and  sove- 
reignty, must  ever  remain  conjectural.  Nothing  concerning 
them  can  come  down  to  us. 

Beyond  a  doubt,  the  first  banners  displayed  upon  the  shores  of 
the  new  world  of  which  there  is  any  account,  were  those  un- 
furled by  Columbus,  when  he  first  landed  upon  the  small  out- 


Flag  unfurled  by  Columbus. 


Standard  of  Spain. 


lying  island  of  St.  Salvador,  Oct.  12, 1492,  which  fortunately  are 
thus  described  by  his  son  :  "  Columbus   dressed  in  scarlet  first 


1  Lasting' s  History  of  the  United  States. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  HI 

stepped  on  shore  from  the  little  boat  which  bore  him  from  his 
vessels,  bearing  the  royal  standard  of  Spain  emblazoned  with 
the  arms  of  Castile  and  Leon  [a  turreted  and  embattled  castle 
or,  on  a  field  gules  for  Castile,  quarterly  on  a  field  argent,  a 
lion  rampant  gules  for  Leon]  in  his  own  hand,  followed  by  the 
Pinzons  in  their  own  boats  each  bearing  the  banner  of  the  expe- 
dition, viz.:  a  white  flag  with  a  green  cross,  having  on  each  side 
the  letters  F  and  Y  surmounted  by  golden  crowns."1 

In  1498,  Columbus  discovered  the  continent  and  planted  the 
Spanish  banners  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oronoco,  supposing  it  to  be 
an  island  on  the  coast  of  Asia.  He  lived  and  died  in  ignorance 
of  the  real  grandeur  of  his  discoveries,  while  Americus  Vespu- 
cius  a  Florentine,  who  explored  the  eastern  coast  of  South 
America,  north  of  the  Oronoco,  a  year  later,  1499,  made 
the  first  formal  announcement  to  the  world  of  the  great  dis- 
covery, in  1507,  and  gave  name  to  the  new  continent  of  the  west. 
At  the  court  of  England,  u  there  was  great  talk  of  the  undertaking 
of  Columbus,  which  was  affirmed  to  be  a  thing  more  divine  than 
human,  and  his  fame  and  report  increased  in  the  hearts  of  some 
of  the  king's  subjects,  a  great  flame  of  desire  to  attempt  something 
alike  notable."  Thus  inspired,  king  Henry  VII  of  England, 
March  5,  1496,  issued  a  patent  to  John  Cabot  and  his  three 
sons,  Lewis,  Sebastian  and  Sancius,  to  sail  with  five  ships 
"  under  the  royal  banners  and  ensigns  to  all  parts,  coun- 
tries and  seas,  of  the  east,  of  the  west,  and  of  the  north, 
and  to  seek  out  and  discover  what  soever  isles,  countries, 
regions,  and  provinces  in  what  part  of  the  world  soever  they 
might  be,  which  before  this  time  had  been  unknown  to  Christ- 
ians. The  king  gave  them  further  license  "  to  set  up  the  royal 
banners  and  ensigns  in  the  countries,  places  or  mainland  newly  found 
by  them,  and  to  conquer,  occupy,  and  possess  them  as  his  vassals 
and  lieutenants.2 

The  patentees  having  to  arm  and  furnish  their  vessels,  to  buy 
victuals,  and  to  provide  all  other  things  necessary  at  their  own 
cost,  were  not  able  to  make  use  of  the  royal  permission  until 
more  than  a  year  after  it  was  issued,  and  did  not  sail  from  Bristol 
until  May,  1497.  -^  *s  asserted  by  some  that  the  expedition 


1  Narrative  of  Don  Fernando. — Irving' s  Life  of  Columbus. 

2  See  patent  in  Latin  in  Hakluyfs  Dion's  foyages.    London,  1860. 


112  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

comprised  four  vessels,  but  we  only  know  with  certainty  that 
the  admiral's  ship  was  called  the  Matthew^  that  she  was  the  first 
vessel  that  touched  our  American  shores,  and  the  only  one  that 
returned  in  safety  to  Bristol.  Relative  to  the  course  which  the 
Cabots  followed  on  this  voyage  we  have  no  definite  information. 
Formerly  it  was  supposed  that  they  made  their  landfell  near 
some  cape  of  the  island  of  Newfoundland,  but  a  more  careful 
examination  of  the  known  facts  has  induced  Baron  Humboldt, 
and  all  recent  writers,  to  believe  that  what  they  called  Prima 
Vista  (the  first  country  seen),  June  24,  1497,  must  be  found  in 
Labrador,  in  56  or  58°  north  latitude). 

We  hear  that  they  sailed  along  the  coast  about  three  hundred 
leagues.  The  Matthew  arrived  at  Bristol  early  in  August,  for 
there  is  an  entry  in  the  privy  purse  accounts  of  Henry  VII, 
dated  "Aug.  10,  1497,"  m  which  the  king  says  "that  he  has 
given  a  reward  of  ten  pounds  to  hym  that  found  the  new  isle  "  and 
"  Pasqualigo  "  under  date  "  London,  23  Aug.  1497,"  announces  to 
his  brothers  in  Venice  the  return  of  John  Cabot  from  his  voyage 
of  discovery,  that  he  had  found  at  a  distance  of  seven  hundred 
leagues  in  the  west  a  firm  land  along  which  he  had  coasted  for 
the  space  of  three  hundred  leagues,  not  having  met  a  living 
person  at  the  points  where  he  had  landed,  but  still  having 
observed  there  some  traces  of  inhabitants,  trees  notched,  and 
nets  for  catching  game.  On  his  return,  he  had  seen  on  his 
right  hand  two  islands,  where  however  he  had  not  wished  to  go 
on  shore  on  account  of  the  failure  of  his  provisions  ;  he  had  re- 
turned to  Bristol  after  a  voyage  of  three  months  having  left  in 
the  lands  which  he  had  discovered  a  grand  cross,  with  the  banner 
of  England  and  that  of  St.  Mark  of  Venice. 

If  this  be  true,  then  under  King  Henry's  patent,  and  orders 
"  to  set  up  his  royal  banners  and  ensigns  in  the  countries,  &c., 
newly  found,"  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  English  standards 
and  ensigns  with  the  Venetian  banner  of  St.  Mark  were  the  first 
ever  planted  by  any  European  nation  planted  upon  the  shores  of 
North  America  since  those  of  the  Northmen,  and  that  they  were 
set  up  a  year  earlier  than  Columbus  raised  the  castles  and  lions  of 
Castile  and  Leon  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oronoco.  On  their  return 
from  this  voyage  the  Cabots  believed  they  had  discovered  portions 
of  Asia,  and  so  proclaimed  it.  But  the  more  extensive  discoveries 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  113 

of  a  second  voyage  corrected  this  view  and  revealed  nothing 
but  a  wild  and  barbarous  coast  stretching  through  30  degrees  of 
latitude,  and  forming  an  impassable  barrier  to  the  rich  posses- 
sjons  of  China  which  they  hoped  to  reach.  Doctor  Asher,  a 
German  writer,  in  his  Life  of  Hudson,  published  in  London  in  1 860, 
observes  "  The  displeasure  of  Cabot  involves  the  scientific 
discovery  of  a  new  world.  He  was  the  first  to  recognize, 
that  a  new  and  unknown  continent  was  lying,  as  one  vast  barrier, 
between  Western  Europe  and  Eastern  Asia." 

The  voyages  of  these  enterprising  mariners  along  the  entire 
coast  of  the  present  United  States,  and  along  the  whole  extent 
of  a  great  continent,  in  which  at  this  time  the  English  race  and  lan- 
guage prevail  and  flourish,  has  always  been  considered  as  the 
true  beginning,  the  foundation  and  corner  stone  of  all  the  English 
claims  and  possessions  in  the  northern  half  of  America. 

English  flags  were  the  first  which  were  planted  along  these 
shores,  and  Englishmen  were  the  first  of  modern  Europeans, 
who  with  their  own  eyes  surveyed  the  border  of  that  great  as- 
semblage of  countries  in  which  they  were  destined  to  become 
so  prominent ;  and  were  also  the  first  to  put  their  feet  upon  it. 
The  history  of  each  one  of  that  chain  of  states  stretching  along 
the  western  shores  of  the  Atlantic  begins  with  Sebastian  Cabot 
and  his  expedition  of  1498. x 

On  the  map  of  the  eastern  coast  of  North  America  by  Juan 
de  la  Cosa,  in  the  year  1500,  the  discoveries  of  the  Cabots  are 
marked  by  English  standards,  while  the  Spanish  possessions  of 
Cuba  and  other  West  India  Islands  are  similarly  marked  with 
Spanish  standards. 

During  the  reigns  of  Henry  VII  and  Henry  VIII,  several 
expeditions  were  made  by  the  English  to  the  north-east  of 
America.  Their  leading  motive  in  those  expeditions  was  the 
hope  of  finding  a  shorter  passage  to  the  rich  countries  of  eastern 
Asia.  The  last  English  expedition  of  this  kind  in  1536,  ended 


1  M.  D'Avezac,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Woods,  dated  Paris,  Dec.  15,  1868,  advocates 
that  John  Cabot  discovered  North  America  in  1494,  and  that  he  kept  his  discovery 
secret  to  escape  the  exclusive  pretensions  of  Spain  and  Portugal,  until  he  had  obtained 
the  letters  patent  from  Henry  VII,  signed  March  5,  1496,  and  returned  from  his 
voyage  in  Aug.,  1496.  See  Maine  Historical  Collections^  vol.  I,  new  series. 

15 


114  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

with  such  loss  of  life,  and  other  disasters,  that  a  most  unfavor- 
able impression  appears  to  have  been  made  by  it  on  the  nation. 
After  this,  for  nearly  fifty  years,  the  English  seem  to  have  en- 
tirely abandoned  the  east  coast  of  America.  The  expedition 
commanded  by  John  Rut,  in  1527,  after  Cabot,  was  the  second 
expedition  which  sailed  along  the  entire  east  coast  of  the  United 
States,  as  far  south  as  Carolina,  and  was  the  last  official  enter- 
prise of  the  English  in  our  waters  until  the  expedition  of  Sir 
John  Hawkins  in  1565. 

It  was  not  until  the  twentieth  year  of  the  reign  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  and  almost  eighty  years  after  the  discovery  of  the 
continent  by  Cabot,  that  healthy  efforts  to  found  colonies  in  the 
new  world  were  matured  by  the  English.  In  June,  1578,  Sir 
Humphry  Gilbert,  a  step  brother  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  obtained 
a  liberal  patent  or  grant  from  the  queen.  Raleigh  gave  him 
the  aid  of  his  hand  and  fortune  ;  and  early  as  1579,  Gilbert 
sailed  for  America  with  a  small  squadron  accompanied  by  his 
step  brother.  Heavy  storms  and  Spanish  war  vessels  compelled 
them  to  return,  and  the  scheme  for  a  time  was  abandoned. 
Four  years  afterwards  (1583),  Gilbert  sailed  with  another 
squadron,  and  after  a  series  of  disasters  reached  the  harbor  of 
St.  John,  in  Newfoundland.  There  he  set  up  a  pillar  with  the 
English  arms  upon  it,  and  proclaimed  the  sovereignty  of  the 
queen.  Proceeding  to  explore  the  coast  southward,  after 
being  terribly  beaten  by  tempests  off  the  shore  of  Nova  Scotia, 
and  Maine,  and  losing  his  largest  ship,  he  turned  his  vessel 
toward  England,  and  during  a  September  gale  his  little  bark,  the 
Squirrel,  of  ten  tons,  went  down  with  all  on  board,  and  only  one 
vessel  of  the  expedition  reached  England. 

In  1784,  Raleigh  obtained  a  patent  for  himself  of  all  lands  in 
America,  (between  the  Santee  and  the  Delaware  rivers),  and 
dispatched  Philip  Amidas  and  Arthur  Barlow  to  explore  the 
American  coast.  They  approached  the  shores  of  Carolina  in 
July,  and  took  possession  of  the  islands  in  Pamlico,  and  Albe- 
marle  sounds  in  the  name  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  They  remained 
a  few  weeks  exploring  and  trafficking,  and  returned  to  England 
with  two  Indians  named  Manteo  and  Wanchese.  The  glowing 
accounts  of  the  newly  discovered  country  filled  Raleigh's  heart 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  115 

with  joy.  The  queen  declared  the  event  one  of  the  most 
glorious  of  her  reign,  and  in  memorial  of  her  unmarried  state, 
she  gave  the  name  of  VIRGINIA  to  the  enchanting  region. 

April  19,  1585,  Raleigh  dispatched  a  fleet  of  seven  vessels 
under  the  command  of  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  with  a  governor 

and  colonists  for  the  purpose  of  making 
a  permanent  settlement  of  the  inviting 
land.  A  series  of  disasters  followed, 
and  induced  by  misfortunes  and  fear, 
the  emigrants  abandoned  their  settle- 
ment on  Roanoke  island  and  were  all 
conveyed  to  England,  by  Sir  Francis 
Drake,  June,  1586.  Raleigh  undis- 
mayed by  the  result  of  his  first  attempt, 
dispatched  a  band  of  agriculturists  and 
Raleigh's  Ship.  artisans  with  their  families  April  26, 

1587,  to  found  an  industrial  state  in 

Virginia.  This  attempt  at  colonization  like  the  others  proved 
a  failure,  and  a  century  after  the  discoveries  of  Columbus  and 
Cabot,  there  was  no  European  settlement  upon  the  North 
American  continent. 

Twelve  years  after  the  failure  of  Raleigh's  colonization  efforts, 
Bartholomew  Gosnold  sailed  in  a  small  bark  directly  across  the 
Atlantic  for  the  American  coast,  and  after  a  voyage  of  seven 
weeks,  discovered  the  continent,  May  14,  1602,  near  Nahant. 
Sailing  southward  he  landed  upon  a  sandy  point  which  he  called 
Cape  Cod,  and  afterwards  discovered  Nantucket,  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, and  the  group  of  islands  known  as  Elizabeth's  Islands, 
which  he  named  in  honor  of  his  sovereign.  Upon  an  islet  in 
a  tiny  lake  he  built  a  fort  and  store  house,  but  alarmed  at  the 
menaces  of  the  Indians  and  the  want  of  supplies,  he  returned  to 
England  in  June. 

In  1605,  Capt.  George  Weymouth  entered  the  Sagadahock, 
and  took  formal  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  King 
James,  and  the  same  year  De  Monts,  a  wealthy  French  Huguenot, 
organized  a  French  settlement  at  Port  Royal  (now  Annapolis) 
and  called  the  territory  around  it  Acadia.  In  1 606,  the  Plymouth 
company  obtained  their  charter  and  soon  after  dispatched  an 
agent  to  examine  north  Virginia.  In  1607  Jamestown  was 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

founded,  and  in  1607  Popham,  with  one  hundred  emigrants 
landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec  where  they  erected  a 
stockade,  a  storehouse  and  a  few  huts.  All  but  forty-five  returned 
to  England  in  the  vessels,  those  who  remained  named  the  settle- 
ment St.  George.  A  terrible  winter  ensued.  Lacking  courage 
to  brave  the  perils  of  the  wilderness  the  emigrants  abandoned 
the  settlement,  and  returned  to  England  in  the  spring  of  1608.* 
From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  every  attempt  of 
Englishmen  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  to  colonize 
the  new  world  proved  abortive,  and  it  was  not  until  the  accession 
of  her  successor  James  I,  and  union  of  the  kingdoms  of  Eng- 
land and  Scotland,  that  her  flag  was  permanently  planted  upon 
its  shores. 


COLONIAL  AND  PROVINCIAL  FLAGS. 
1634-1766. 

The  flags  used  by  the  American  colonies  prior  to  their  separa- 
tion from  the  mother  country  would  naturally  be  those  of  Eng- 
land, though  such  does  not  appear  to  have  been  invariably  the 
case.  Several  flags  differing  more  or  less  from  the  standards 
and  ensigns  of  that  kingdom  seem  at  times  to  have  been  in  use. 

The  ancient  national  flag  of  England,  the  cross  of  St.  George, 
a  white  banner  with  a  red  cross,  was  the  universal  badge  of  the 
English  soldiery  as  early  as  the  I4th  century,  and  was  worn  by 
them  over  their  armor,  and  blazoned  on  their  shields.  Why 
St.  George  was  constituted  the  patron  saint  of  England,  has 


1  The  English  claimed  dominion  over  a  belt  of  territory  extending  from  Cape  Fear, 
in  North  Carolina,  to  Halifax,  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  indefinitely  westward.  This 
was  divided  into  two  districts.  One  extended  from  the  vicinity  of  New  York 
city  northward  to  the  present  southern  boundary  of  Canada,  including  the  whole  of 
New  England,  and  westward  of  it,  and  was  called  North  Virginia.  This  territory 
was  granted  to  a  company  of  "  knights,  gentlemen  and  merchants,"  in  the  west  of 
England,  called  the  Plymouth  Company.  The  other  district  extended  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Potomac  southward  to  Cape  Fear,  and  was  called  South  Virginia.  It 
was  granted  to  a  company  of  "  noblemen,  gentlemen,  and  merchants,"  chiefly  resi- 
dents of  London,  called  the  London  Company.  The  intermediate  domain  of  almost 
two  hundred  miles,  was  a  dividing  line,  so  broad  that  disputes  about  territory  could  not 
occur,  as  neither  company  was  allowed  to  make  settlements  more  than  fifty  miles 
beyond  its  own  boundary. —  Lossing's  History  of  the  United  States. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  117 

been  and  continues  to  be  a  puzzle  to  antiquarians,  but  "  St.  George 
for  England,"  or  "  Merrie  England,"  was  a  usual  war  cry,  and 
his  banner  above  all  others  was  the  national  banner  of  English- 
men. Whatever  other  banners  were  carried,  it  was  always  fore- 
most in  the  field.  Adopted  as  the  national  standard  and  ensign, 
it  continued  to  be  such  until  A.  D.  1606,  when  King  James  I  by 
his  royal  proclamation,1  united  with  it  the  cross  of  St.  Andrew,  a 
diagonal  white  cross,  on  a  blue  ground,  (which  had  been  the  flag 
and  badge  of  the  Scots  from  the  time  of  the  Crusades),  as  a  dis- 
tinguishing flag,  for  all  his  subjects  traveling  by  sea. 

This  union  of  the  crosses  in  1606  of  the  two  kingdoms  which 
had  been  united  by  the  accession  of  James  in  1603,  was  called 
the  king's  colors.  They  were  required  to  be  displayed  from  the 
main  tops  of  all  British  vessels,  those  of  South  Britain  (England), 
however,  were  to  carry  the  St.  George's  cross,  and  those  of  north 
Britain  (Scotland),  the  St.  Andrew's  cross,  in  their  fore  tops,  to 
designate  which  section  of  the  united  kingdom  they  hailed  from  ; 
the  union  flag  of  course  taking  precedence  in  the  main  top  and 
at  the  after  part  of  the  vessel.2 

The  first  grant  of  the  crown  of  England  under  which  effectual 
settlements  were  made  in  North  America,  was  dated  April  10, 
1606,  the  very  year  the  crosses  of  the  two  kingdoms  were  united 
by  royal  proclamation.  By  this  charter  all  the  country  in  America 
between  latitude  34°  and  45°  north,  was  called  Virginia  ;  two 
companies  were  constituted,  one  called  the  London  Company  the 
other  the  Plymouth  Company.  To  the  first  named  was  assigned 
of  this  vast  territory  all  that  portion  lying  between  the  parallels 
of  34°  and  41°  north  latitude  under  the  name  of  South  Virginia. 
To  the  latter  all  lying  to  the  north  of  41  °,  called  North  Virginia. 
Such  was  the  vague  extent  of  the  old  dominion  of  Virginia.3 

After  the  execution  of  Charles  I,  the  new  council  of  states 
on  the  22d  Feb.,  1648—9,  passed  a  resolution:  "That  the 
ships  at  sea  in  the  service  of  the  states  shall  bear  the  red  cross 
in  a  white  flag.  That  the  engraving  upon  the  sterns  of  the 

1  See  ante. 

3  Rushworth  says,  1634  (vol.  ir,  pp.  247)  that  "  the  union  flag,  that  is  the  St. 
George's  and  St.  Andrews  crosses  joined  together,  was  still  to  be  reserved  as  an  ornament 
proper  to  the  king's  own  ships,  and  ships  in  his  immediate  service  and  pay,  and  none 
other.  English  ships  were  to  bear  the  red  cross,  Scotch  the  white. 

3  See  note  ante. 


118  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

ships  shall  be  the  arms  of  England  and  Ireland  in  two  escutcheons 
as  is  used  in  the  seals."  Soon  after  we  read  of  vessels  sailing 

under  the  long  parliament  flag  which 
bore  on  a  blue  field  the  yellow  Irish 
harp,  with  the  St.  George's  cross  next 
the  stafFin  a  white  canton.  Under  the 
protectorate  we  find  a  blue  flag  in  use, 
bearing  in  the  field  the  two  shields  of 
England  and  Ireland,  viz:  argent,  a 
cross  gules,  and  azure  a  harp  or.  These 
were  joined  together  in  a  horse  shoe 
shape,  and  surrounded  by  a  white  la- 
bel of  three  folds,  the  motto  in  black 

letters    "  Floreat  Res.    Publica,"   and 
Long  Parliament  Flag.  outsjde  ^  gojden  bnmches  of  laurej? 

leaved  green.  Another  flag  of  this  period  preserved  as  late  as  1 803 
in  one  of  the  storehouses  of  Chatham  dock  yard,  bore  the  same 
shields  slightly  separated  on  a  red  field,  and  surrounded  by 
branches  of  palm  and  laurel. 

On  the  fleet  which  restored  Charles  II  to  the  throne  of  his 
father,  the  royal  cypher  took  the  place  of  the  state's  arms,  and 
the  harp  was  removed  from  the  long  parliament  flag,  which  they 
also  bore  as  having  been  instrumental  in  the  restoration  of  that 
body  during  the  previous  year.  Soon  after  this,  under  James 
duke  of  York,  who  had  been  appointed  the  lord  high  admiral  of 
England,  Ireland,  Wales,  &c.,and  of  the  dominions  of  New  Eng- 
land, "Jamaica  and  Virginia,  &c.,  in  America,  we  find  the  flags 
of  the  navy  to  have  been  the  royal  standard  ;  the  lord  high  ad- 
miral's flag,  then  as  now  a  foul  anchor  or,  on  a  red  field,  the 
union  jack  or  flag  and  the  English  ensign  red,  cantoned  with  the 
St.  George's  cross. 

During  the  civil  war,  the  colors  or  flags  were  principally  red 
for  the  royalists,  orange  for  the  parliamentarians,  and  blue  for 
the  Scotch,  and  all  of  them  cantoned  with  a  red  St.  George's 
cross  on  a  white  field. 

The  complete  union  of  the  kingdoms  was  not  fully  accom- 
plished until  a  hundred  years  after  this  union  of  crosses  in  the 
king's  colors,  in  1 707,  viz :  whenunder  Queen  Anne,  the  kingdom 
of  Great  Britain,  including  England,  Wales  and  Scotland,  was 
established  by  treaty  and  the  first  union  parliament  assembled. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  119 

The  act  of  parliament  which  ratified  this  union  of  the  king- 
doms, January  16,  1707,  ordained  "that  the  ensigns  armorial  of 
our  kingdom  of  Great  Britain "  shall  be  "  the  crosses  of  St. 
George  and  St.  Andrew  conjoined  (the  same  as  heretofore  de- 
scribed as  the  king's  colors),  to  be  used  on  all  flags,  banners, 
standards  and  ensigns  both  at  sea  and  land"  " and  the  ensigns 
described  in  the  margent  hereof  (the  crosses  or  king's  colors 
conjoined  in  the  upper  corner  of  a  crimson  banner,  since  known 
as  the  meteor  flag  of  England,  to  be  worn  on  board  all  ships  or 
vessels  belonging  to  any  of  our  subjects  whatsoever."  These 
flags  were  known  familiarly  as  union  flags,  from  their  typefying 
the  union  of  England  and  Scotland,  and  were  commonly  used 
by  the  American  colonies  in  connection  with  other  devices  un- 
til their  rupture  with  the  mother  country.  Thus  early  the  idea 
of  a  union  flag  became  familiar  to  them. 

As  the  king's  colors  had  been  authoritatively  prescribed  for  sub- 
jects traveling  by  sea  only,  it  is  probable  the  St.  George's  cross 
continued  to  be  very  generally  used  by  the  English  subjects  of 
Great  Britain  on  land  until  the  act  of  1707,  for  the  parliament 
of  the  Commonwealth  under  Cromwell  adopted  the  old  standard. 

Ireland  was  conquered  in  1691,  but  was  not  incorporated  into 
the  kingdom  until  Jan.  I,  1801,  long  after  our  revolution,  and 
then  the  cross  of  St.  Patrick,  a  red  diagonal  saltiere  was  fim- 
brated  on  the  white  cross  of  St.  Andrew  and  conjoined  to  the 
other  two,  and  the  union  jack  of  the  united  kingdom  assumed  its 
present  form.  The  present  ensign  of  Great  Britain  was  never 
worn  by  any  of  the  American  colonies.1 

It  is  to  be  presumed  the  cross  of  St.  George  was  hoisted  over 
the  Mayflower  when  she  disembarked  our  Pilgrim  fathers  at 
Plymouth  in  1620,  as  it  was  the  common  sea  ensign  of  English 
ships  of  that  period.  Belonging  to  South  Britain  she  may  also 

1  The  proclamation  declaring  what  ensigns,  colors,  etc.,  are  to  be  borne  by  the 
subjects  of  the  united  kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  may  be  found  in  full  in 
the  British  Naval  Chronicle,  vol.  v,  1801. 

One  of  the  British  flags  surrendered  at  Yorktown,  and  presented  to  Washington 
by  congress,  was  the  same  as  the  king's  colors,  established  by  James  I,  excepting 
that  in  the  centre  of  the  cross  there  is  a  white  square  with  a  crown  above  the  garter. 
The  garter  is  inscribed  with  the  usual  motto,  Honj  soit  qui  ma!  y  pensc,  and  enclosing 
a  full  blown  rose.  This  flag  is  now  in  the  museum  at  Alexandria,  Va.  It  is  made 
of  heavy  twilled  silk,  and  is  six  feet  long  and  five  feet  four  inches  wide.  Lossing 
has  an  engraving  of  it  in  his  Field  Book  of  the  American  Re-volution. 

The  garrison  flag  of  Great  Britain  is  the  union  jack  or  flag,  prescribed  Jan.  I,  1801. 


120  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

have  displayed  the  king's  colors  from  her  main  top,  and  a  St. 
George's  cross  at  the  fore,  as  required  by  the  king's  proclama- 
tion of  1606. 

From  the  records  of  Massachusetts,  we  gather  that  the  red 
cross  of  St.  George  was  in  use  in  that  colony  in  1634,  if  not 
earlier. 

In  that  year  according  to  the  records,  complaint  was  entered, 
u  that  the  ensigns  at  Salem  had  been  defaced  by  Mr.  Endicott's 
cutting  out  one  part  of  the  red  cross.  Roger  Williams  is  ac- 
cused of  having  agitated  the  matter,  and  therefore  accountable 
for  the  trouble  it  occasioned.  The  case  was  examined  as  a 
high  handed  proceeding  which  might  be  construed  into  one  of 
rebellion  to  England,  on  the  complaint  of  Mr.  Richard  Browne, 
ruling  elder  of  the  church  at  Watertown,  before  the  court  of 
assistants.  The  court  issued  an  attachment  against  Ensign 
Richard  Davenport,  then  the  ensign  bearer  of  Salem,  whose 
colors  had  been  mutilated,  to  appear  at  the  next  court,  which 
was  not  held  until  a  year  after  his  flag  was  so  mutilated.  It 
was  then  shown  that  the  mutilation  complained  of  was  done  not 
from  disloyalty  to  the  flag  but  from  an  entire  conscientious  con- 
viction that  it  was  idolatrous  to  allow  it  to  remain,  and  that 
having  been  given  to  the  king  of  England  by  the  pope,  it  was 
a  relic  of  anti-Christ.  Endicott  was  judged  to  be  guilty  of  a 
great  offence  inasmuch  as  he  had  '  with  rash  indiscretion  and 
by  his  sole  authority,  committed  an  act  giving  occasion  to  the 
court  of  England  to  think  ill  of  them  '  for  which  he  was  deemed 
worthy  of  admonition,  and  should  be  disabled  from  bearing  any 
public  office  for  one  year." 

The  provincial  authorities  were,  however,  doubtful  of  the  law- 
ful use  of  a  cross  in  the  ensign,  and  had  there  been  no  fear  of  a 
royal  governor  little  would  have  been  heard  about  this  mutila- 
tion of  the  colors  at  Salem,  for  only  two  months  later  all  the 
ministers  except  Mr.  Ward,  of  Ipswich,  were  assembled  at 
Boston,  to  consider  among  other  things  whether  it  was  lawful 
to  carry  a  cross  in  the  banners.  The  opinion  of  the  meeting  on 
that  subject  being  divided,  the  matter  was  deferred  to  another 
meeting  in  March,  at  which  Mr.  Endicott  was  called  upon  to 
answer.  This  meeting  was  able  to  agree  no  better  than  the 
previous  one,  and  the  record  continues,  "  because  the  court  could 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  121 

not  agree  about  the  thing,  whether  the  ensigns  should  be  laid  by 
in  that  regard  that  many  refused  to  follow  them,  the  whole  case 
was  referred  to  the  next  general  court,  and  the  commissioners 
for  military  affairs  gave  orders  in  the  mean  time  that  all  ensigns 
should  be  laid  aside." 

In  the  interim  a  new  flag  having  for  an  emblem  the  red  and 
white  roses  in  place  of  the  cross  was  proposed,  and  letters  in 
relation  to  the  matter  were  written  to  England,  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  "the  judgment  of  the  most  wise  and  godly  there." 
This  project  seems  not  to  have  met  the  approval  of  the  wise  and 
godly  in  England,  for  in  December,  1635,  it  is  recorded  that 
the  military  commissioners  u  appointed  colors  for  every  company," 
leaving  out  the  cross  in  all  of  them  and  appointing  that  the  king's 
arms  should  be  put  into  them,  and  in  the  colors  of  Castle  island, 
Boston. 

All  ships  in  passing  the  fort  at  Castle  island,  were  bound  to 
observe  certain  regulations,  but  after  these  occurrences  the  fort 
wearing  for  a  time  no  flag  to  signify  its  real  character,  presented 
the  appearance  of  a  captured  or  deserted  fortress. 

Under  these  circumstances  in  the  spring  of  1636,  the  ship 
St.  Patrick,  Capt.  Palmer,  was  brought  to,  by  Capt.  Morris,  the 
officer  in  command  of  the  fort,  and  made  to  strike  her  colors. 
Capt.  Palmer  complained  to  the  authorities  of  the  conduct  of 
the  commander  of  the  fort,  as  a  flagrant  insult  both  to  his  flag 
and  country.  They  therefore  ordered  the  commander  of  the 
fort  before  them,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  master  of  the  ship, 
informed  him  that  he  had  no  authority  to  do  as  he  had  done, 
and  he  was  ordered  to  make  such  atonement  as  Capt.  Palmer 
should  demand.  The  captain  was  very  lenient,  only  requiring 
an  acknowledgment  of  his  error  on  board  of  his  ship,  "  that  so 
all  the  ship's  company  might  receive  satisfaction."  This  Lieut. 
Morris  submitted  to,  and  all  parties  became  quieted  ;  but  within 
a  few  days  another  circumstance  occurred  respecting  the  fort 
with  a  somewhat  different  result.  The  mate  of  a  ship  called 
the  Hector  pronounced  all  the  people  traitors  and  rebels  because 
they  had  discarded  the  king's  colors,  and  was  brought  before  the 
court  and  made  to  acknowledge  his  offence  and  sign  a  paper  to 
that  effect. 

16 


122  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

These  occurrences  troubled  the  authorities  lest  reports 
should  be  carried  to  England  that  they  had  rebelled,1  and  that 
their  contempt  of  the  English  flag  was  proof  of  the  allegation. 
To  counteract  such  representations,  Mr.  Vane,  the  governor, 
called  the  captains  of  the  ten  remaining  ships  then  in  harbor 
together,  and  desired  to  know  if  they  were  offended  at  what  had 
happened,  and  if  so  what  they  required  in  satisfaction.  They 
frankly  told  him  that  if  questioned  on  their  return  to  England 
"  what  colors  they  saw  here,"  a  statement  of  the  bare  facts  in 
relation  to  it  might  result  to  their  disadvantage.  Therefore 
they  would  recommend  that  the  king's  colors  might  be  set  up 
in  the  fort.  The  governor  and  his  advisers  arrived  at  the  same 
conclusion,  and  directed  to  give  warrant  to  spread  the  king's 
colors  at  Castle  island,  where  ships  passed  by. 

There  being  no  king's  colors  to  be  found  to  display  at  the 
fort,  the  difficulty  was  met  by  two  of  the  shipmasters  offering 
to  present  them  with  a  set,  but  so  fearful  were  the  authorities  of 
tolerating  a  symbol  of  idolatry,  they  declined  receiving  the  colors 
thus  offered  until  they  had  first  taken  the  advice  of  Mr.  Cotton 
in  regard  to  them.  It  was  finally  concluded  that  although  they 
were  of  the  decided  opinion  that  the  cross  in  the  ensign  was 
idolatrous  and  therefore  ought  not  to  be  had  in  it,  nevertheless 
as  the  fort  was  the  king's  and  maintained  in  his  name,  his  colors 
might  be  used  there.  In  accordance  with  this  opinion  the 
governor  accepted  the  colors  of  Capt.  Palmer,  sending  him  in 
requital  three  beaver  skins,  and  directed  Mr.  Dudley  to  give 
warrant  to  Lieut.  Morris,  the  commander  of  the  fort,  to  spread 
the  king's  colors  whenever  ships  were  passing. 

This  tempest  in  a  tea  pot,  having  been  satisfactorily  adjusted, 
the  king's  colors  were  continued  at  the  castle,  but  excluded  from 
use  elsewhere  in  the  colony,  where  through  the  religious  pre- 
judices of  the  people,  the  flag  bearing  the  king's  arms,  continued 
in  use  until  the  establishment  of  the  commonwealth. 

In  1638,  the  subject  of  forming  a  confederacy  of  the  New 
England  colonies  was  discussed,  but  owing  to  divers  differences 
the  matter  was  delayed. 

1 A  seafaring  man  on  approaching  in  his  ship,  having  noticed  that  the  flag  displayed 
was  destitute  of  a  cross,  "spoke  to  some  one  on  board  the  ship  that  we  had  not  the 
king's  colors  but  were  all  traitors  and  rebels." — Smith's  Hist.  Ncwburyport. 


NEW  ENGLAND  COLORS. 


FLAG  OF  NEW  ENGLAND  under  SIR  EDMUND  ANDROS 


FftOM  A  DRAFT  IN  THE  BRITISH   STATE  PAPER   OFFICE] 
NEW  ENGLAND   PAPERS, VOL. 1A  PAGE  223  / 


/etc  5imile 
"of  tit 

3EA    COLORS    OF    NEW    ENGLAND'. 

fnm    an 

WO*  I    PUBLISHED 
StFOHt    1700. 


B  UFFOftD  >$  i  I TH-  BOSTON. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES. 


123 


In  1643,  tne  confederacy  was  formed,  and  in  the  articles  of 
compact,  the  colonies  were  styled,  THE  UNITED  COLONIES  OF 
NEW  ENGLAND.  The  union  was  declared  to  be  perpetual,  and 
the  will  of  six  of  the  eight  commissioners  chosen  (two  for  each 
colony),  was  to  be  binding  on  all.  We  do  not  learn  however 
that  any  common  flag  was  adopted,  until  several  years  later 
(1686),  when  Gov.  Andros  received  one  from  the  king.  (Plate 
IV.) 

In  1651,  the  English  parliament  revived  and  adopted  the 
old  standard  of  St.  George  as  the  colors  of  England,  and  the 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts  Ordered,  u  as  the  court  con- 
ceive the  old  English  colors  now  used  by  the  parliament  to  be 
a  necessary  badge  of  distinction  betwixt  the  English  and  other 
nations  in  all  places  of  the  world,  //'//  the  state  of  England  alter 

the  same,  which  we  very  much 
desire,  we  being  of  the  same  na- 
tion, have  therefore  ordered,  that 
the  captain  of  the  castle  shall 
advance  the  aforesaid  colors  of 
England  upon  all  necessary 
occasions." 

Mr.  Whitmore,  in  the  New 
England  Hist,  and  Gen.  Register 
for  July,  1871,  furnishes  an 
interesting  account  of  a  local 
company  of  cavalry  raised  in 
1659,  just  before  the  restoration 
of  Charles  II,  the  counties 
of  Essex,  Suffolk,  Middlesex, 
Mass.,  and  hence  called  the 
Three  County  Troop,  and  which 
according  to  the  records  con- 
tinued in  existence  until  1677, 
and  possibly  longer.  His  paper 
is  illustrated  with  the  annexed 
drawing  of  the  standard  and  a 
bill  of  its  cost  copied  from  an 
entry  in  a  Herald  painter's  book  of  the  time  of  Charles  I,  now 
preserved  in  theBritish  Museum. 


124 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


It  is  as  follows  : 

"  Worke  don  for  New  England 

For  painting  in  oyle  on  both  sides  a  Cornett  one  rich  crimson 
damask,  with  a  hand  and   sword  and   invelloped  with  a  scarfe 
about  the  arms  of  gold,  black  and  sillver  [£2.  o.  6.] 

For  a  plaine  cornett  Staffe,  with  belte,  boote  and  swible  at  first 
penny  I.  o.  o 

For  silke  of  crimson  and  sillver  fring  and  for  a  Cornett  String    i .  1 1 .  o 

For  crimson  damask  1 1 .  o 


£5.  2.6 

(NOTE. —  The  first  item  £2.0.6  is  not  given  but  is  deduced  from  the 
adding.  The  term  "  at  first  penny  "  may  be  the  same  as  at  first  cost). 

The  existence  of  this  troop  being  clearly  shown  by  the  Mass, 
records  of  1659-7  7,  there  can  De  no  doubt  the  drawing  represents 
its  standard.  We  may  imagine  it  was  ordered  from  England  be- 
fore King  Philip's  war,  and  that  under  its  folds  the  best  soldiers 
of  the  three  counties  took  part  in  the  fight.  Two  copies  from 
the  drawing  agree  in  representing  the  inscription  on  the  flag  as 
"  thre  county  trom"  which  is  supposed  to  be  a  mistake,  and  that 
the  flag  really  bore  the  words  "  Thre  County  Troop,"  the  name 
of  the  company  for  which  it  was  ordered. 

On  the  3  ist  of  May,  1684,  tne  Hon.  Nathaniel  Saltonstall 
"  late  of  Haverhill  "  one  of  the  council  for  the  colonies,  wrote 

to  Capt.  Thomas  Noyes  of  New- 
bury,  Mass.,  concerning  the  colors  of 
a  company  of  foot  commanded  by  the 
latter,  as  follows  :  "  In  ye  Major  Ge- 
neral's letter,  I  have  ordered  also  to 
require  you,  which  I  herein  do,  with 
all  convenient  speed,  to  provide  a 
flight  of  colors  for  your  foot  company, 
ye  ground  field  or  flight  (fly)  whereof 
is  to  be  green,  with  a  red  cross  with 
a  white  field  in  ye  angle,  according  to 
the  antlent  customs  of  our  own  English 
nation,  and  the  English  plantations  in 
America,  and  our  own  practise  in  our 
ships  and  other  vessels.  The  number  of  bullets  to  be  put  into 


Colors  of  Capt.  Noyes 
Company  1684. 


FLAG  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES.  125 

your  colors  for  distinction  may  be  left  out  at  present   without 
damage  in  the  making  of  them." 

"  So  faile  not, 
"  Your  friend  and  servant, 

"  N.  SALTONSTALL.'  " 

In  1686,  the  flag  of  New  England  under  the  administration 
of  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  as  appears  by  a  drawing  of  it  in  the 
British  State  Paper  office,  was  the  cross  of  St.  George  borne  on 
a  white  field  occupying  the  whole  flag,  the  centre  of  the  cross 
emblazoned  with  a  yellow  or  gilt  crown  over  the  cypher  of  the 
sovereign,  King  James  I.  (Plate  IV.) 

The  early  colonial  documents  of  New  York  have  several 
mentions  of  flags  in  use  in  that  colony,  in  the  latter  half  of  the 
seventeenth  and  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

Sept.  10,  1650,  Augustin  Herman  brought  with  him  from 
Holland  a  flag  for  the  burgher's  corps  of  New  Amsterdam,  but 
Stuyvesant,  who  he  wrote  was  doing  as  he  pleased,  "  would  not 
allow  it  to  be  carried." 

Jan.  17,  1653.  The  patroon  and  his  codirectors  of  the 
colonie  of  Rensselaerswyck,  complained  that  "tk/rflag  had  been 
hauled  down  in  opposition  to  the  will  and  protest  of  their 
officers."  What  that  obnoxious  flag  was  we  have  now  no  means 
of  ascertaining,  but  the  directors  of  the  chamber  of  Amsterdam 
reply  "  they  are  ignorant  where  the  flag  was  down." 

Jan.  u,  1664,  an  English  flag  seems  to  have  been  displayed 
with  considerable  bravado  by  one  John  Schott  in  sight  of  the 
astonished  burghers  of  New  Amsterdam.  "  Capt.  John  Schott," 
says  the  record,  "  came  to  the*ferry  in  the  town  of  Breucklin 
(Brooklyn)  with  a  troop  of  Englishmen  mounted  on  horseback, 
with  great  noise  marching  with  sounding  trumpets,  &c.,"  and 
hoisted  the  English  flag,  and  as  soon  as  John  Schott  arrived, 
they  uncovered  their  heads  and  spoke  in  English.  Secretary 
Van  Ruyven  asked  the  captain  to  cross  over,  to  which  John 
Schott  answered  "  No !  Let  Stuyvesant  come  over  with  a  hun- 
dred soldiers.  I  shall  wait  for  him  here." 


1  Coffin^  History  of  Nrwbury,  credited  to  Robert  Adams's  Manuscript. 


126 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


In  September  of  that  year  the  red  cross  of  St.  George  floated  in 
triumph  over  the  fort,  and  the  name  of  New  Amsterdam  was 
changed  to  New  York.  Early  in  Oct.,  1664,  New  Netherland 
was  acknowledged  a  part  of  the  British  realm,  and  Col.  Richard 
Nicolls  its  conqueror  became  governor. 

The  journal  of  a  voyage  to  New  York  in  1679—80,  by  Jasper 
Dankers  and  Peter  Sluyter, -translated  from  the  original  Dutch 
manuscript  and  published  by  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society  in 
1 867,  has  several  facsimile  engravings  from  the  original  drawings. 
One  of  these,  a  curious  picture  of  New  York  in  1679,  has  the 
union  flag  or  king's  colors  flying  over  the  fort,  and  another 
a  view  of  New  York  from  the  north,  has  a  rude  drawing  of  a 
sloop  sailing  along  with  flags  at  the  masthead,  bowsprit  end 
and  stern  bearing  the  St.  George  cross. 


King's  colors  flying  over 
fort  at  New  York,  in  1 670. 


St.  George's  Cross  on  sloop,  in  1679. 


Fortunately  the  same  writers  under  date  Boston,  Thursday, 
July  23,  1680,  give  us  a  precise  description  of  the  flag  then  in 
use  in  that  colony,  by  which  it  seems  those  colonists'  objection  to 
the  cross  as  an  idolatrous  symbol,  near  half  a  century  earlier 
(see  ante,  p.  1 1 6)  still  existed.  Our  voyagers  say :  "  New  England 
is  now  described  as  extending  from  the  Fresh  [Connecticut] 
river  to  Cape  Cod  and  thence  to  Kennebec,  comprising  three 
provinces  or  colonies.  Fresh  river,  or  Connecticut,  Rhode 
island  and  the  other  islands  to  Cape  Cod,  and  Boston,  which 
stretches  from  thence  north.  They  are  subject  to  no  one,  but 
acknowledge  the  king  of  England  for  their  honeer  [probably  heer, 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  127 

that  is  lord,  is  intended]  and  therefore  no  ships  enter  unless  they 
have  English  passports  or  commissions. 
"  Each  province  chooses  its  own  governor  from  the  magistracy, 
and  the  magistrates  are  chosen  from  the  principal  inhabitants, 
merchants  or  planters.  They  are  all  Independent  in  matters  of 
religion,  if  it  can  be  called  religion ;  many  of  them  perhaps 
more  for  the  purpose  of  enjoying  the  benefit  of  its  privileges 
than  for  any  regard  to  truth  and  godliness.  I  observed  that  while 
the  English  flag  or  color  has  a  red  ground  with  a  small  white  field 
in  the  uppermost  corner  where  there  is  a  red  cross,  they  have  dis- 
pensed with  this  cross  in  their  color,  and  preserved  the  rest."  The 
diary  goes  on  to  give  a  poor  and  perhaps  prejudiced  account  of 
the  morality  of  the  community  which  it  would  be  out  of  place 
to  copy  here.  Nov.  13,  1696,  Messrs.  Brooke  and  Nicoll,  in 
a  paper  addressed  to  the  H.  M.  commissioners  for  trade  and 
plantations,  relating  to  the  requisites  for  the  defence  of  New 
York,  ask  to  be  furnished  with  "six  large  union  flags,  for  his 
matyes  severai  forts"  in  that  colony,  and  Feb.  I,  1696-7,  the 
lords  of  trade,  write  Governor  Fletcher,  his  majesty  has  ordered 
with  other  stores  that  had  been  asked  for  "six  union  flags,  which 
we  doubt  not  the  agents  will  accordingly  take  care  to  see  shipt." 

Dec.  29,  1701,  Lieut.  Gov.  John  Nanfan  writes  from  New 
York  to  the  lords  commissioners  for  trade  and  plantations  : 
"  Since  my  last  to  your  Lordships  of  the  2Oth  October,  by 
Mr.  Penn,  I  have  the  honor  of  your  Lordship's  letter  of  the 
I4th  August,  with  their  excellencies  the  Lord  Justice's  order 
on  the  reading  the  report  from  the  lords  of  the  admiralty 
relating  to  a  flag  of  distinction  from  his  majesty's  ships 
of  war  to  be  worn  by  all  ships  that  shall  be  commissionated  by 
the  governors  of  His  Majestys  Plantations,  which  I  shall  punc- 
tually observe."  What  these  colors  were  does  not  appear,  but 
J.  Burchett  writes  to  Mr.  Popple  from  the  admiralty  office, 
April  19,  1708,  that  the  lords,  etc.,  instruct  Lord  Lovelace, 
the  governor  of  New  York,  u  they  have  no  objections  to  certain 
colors  proposed  for  privateers." 

Among  the  instructions  furnished  to  Robert  Hunter,  governor 
of  New  York,  dated  Dec.  29,  1709,  is  the  following,  numbered 


128  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

85  :     "  Whereas  great  inconveniences  do  happen  by  merchant 
ships  and  other  vessels  in  the  plantations  wearing  colors  born  by 

our  ships  of  war  under  pretence  of 
commissions  granted  to  them  by  the 
governors  of  the  said  plantations,  and 
that  by  trading  under  those  colors  not 
only  amongst  our  own  subjects  but  also 
those  of  other  princes  and  states  and 
committing  divers  irregularities,  they 
do  very  much  dishonor  our  service  for 
prevention  whereof  you  are  to  oblige 
the  commanders  of  all  such  ships  to 
which  you  shall  grant  commission  to 


the  sample  here  described,  that  is  to  say 
such  as  is  worn  by  our  ships  of  war,  with  the  distinction  of  a  white 
escutcheon  in  the  middle  thereof,  and  that  the  said  mark  of  dis- 
tinction may  extend  itself  one  half  of  the  depth  of  the  jack,  and 
one-third  of  the  fly  thereof."1 

The  lords  of  trade  to  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  under  date 
Aug.  20,  1741,  forward  instructions  to  the  Hon.  George  Clin- 
tonx  governor  of  New  York,  by  one  of  which  orders  colonial 
vessels  are  "  to  wear  the  same  ensign  as  merchant  ships,  and  a  red 
jack*  with  the  union  jack  in  a  canton  at  the  upper  corner  next 
the  staff." 

Gov.  Clinton  writes  the  Duke  of  Bedford  from  New  York, 
June  17,  1750,  that  the  Greyhound  man  of  war  fired  on  a  vessel 
with  an  intention  of  bringing  her  to,  "  she  having  a  Birdgee 
flag  hoisted,"  a  shot  struck  a  young  woman  Elizabeth  Stibben 
by  name,  in  the  vessel,  so  that  she  expired  a  few  hours  after- 
wards. The  vessel  belonged  to  "  Col.  Richetts  of  the  Jerseys, 
a  hot  headed,  rash  young  man,  who  declared  before  he  put  off 
from  the  wharf  he  would  wear  that  pendant  in  defiance  of  the 
man  of  war."  This  affair  caused  no  little  excitement,  and  was 
the  occasion  of  considerable  correspondence  between  the  governor, 
the  commander  of  the  Greyhound,  and  the  magistrates,  etc. 


1  Instructions  to  Governor  Hunter,  N.  T.  Colonial  Hist.,  vol.  v,  p.  137. 
a  See  Account  of  Landing  of  British  Troops  at  Boston ,  1768. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


129 


The  cross  of  St.  George  from  its  establishment  in  1651,  by 
the  commonwealth  of  England,  continued  in  general  use  in  the 
American  colonies  with  occasional  variations  throughout  the  I7th 
century,  and  until  the  Union  flag  of  James  I,  devised  for 
his  English  and  Scotch  subjects  in  1606,  was  prescribed  by  act 
of  parliament  for  general  use  throughout  the  British  dominions 
in  1707. 

A  crimson  flag  of  which  the  jack  was  a  red  St.  George  cross 
on  a  white  field,  was  the  ensign  most  generally  in  use  in  New 
England.  Sometimes  a  tree,  at  other  times  a  hemisphere,  was 
represented  in  the  upper  canton  next  the  staff  formed  by  the 
cross,  and  occasionally  the  fly  or  field  was  blue. 

In  a  little  book,  something  of  the  character  of  the  Gotha 
Almanac,  entitled  The  Present  State  of  the  Universe,  by  John 
Beaumont,  Jr.,  printed  at  London,  by  Benjamin  Motte, 
1704,  there  is  a  picture  of  a  New  England  ensign,  with  a 
tree,  like  the  one  above  described.  Another  book  entitled,  A 
General  Treatise  of  the  Dominion  of  the  Sea,  etc.,  Third  edi- 
tion, printed  at  London  for  the  executors  of  J.  Nicholson, 
with  no  date,  but  judged  about  1707,  has  a  folding  plate 
of  national  flags,  among  which  is  a  New  England  ensign  of  the 
same  character,  a  tracing  of  whigh  is  here  annexed. 


English  Ensign. 


East  India  Co. 


Scotch  Ensign. 


Scotch  Union  Flag.  Irish  Ensign.  New  England  Ensign. 

From  a  plate  of  National  Flags  in  the  Dominion  oftht  Sta. 
1707. 

17 


130  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Alexander,  Justices,  Dominions  and  Laws  of  the  Sea,  London, 
1 705, '(probably  an  earlier  edition  of  the  book  above  mentioned), 
represents  the  same  flag.  Another  work,  published  in  1701, 
has  a  representation  of  this  flag,  and  in  still  another  work 
there  is  a  representation  of  the  flag  of  the  New  England  colonies, 
which  has  a  dark  blue  fly  or  field,  with  the  St.  George  cross 
on  a  white  jack,  while  in  place  of  the  tree  a  half  globe  is 
represented.  Lossing,  in  his  Field  Book  of  the  American  Revo- 
lution, has  a  picture  of  the  New  England  flag,  with  the  tree, 
which  he  copies  from  an  old  Dutch  work  containing  the  flags 
of  all  nations,  which  all  preserved  in  the  library  of  the  New 
York  Historical  Society. 

A  correspondent  of  London  Notes  and  Queries2  writes,  that  he 
has  a  French  work  on  flags,  published  in  1737,  which  describes 
a  Pavilion  de  Nouvelle  Jngleterre  en  Amerique,  "  as  azure,  on  a 
canton  argent,  the  red  cross  of  St.  George  having  a  globe  in  the 
first  quarter." 

The  earliest  notice  of  a  new  England  flag  emblematic  of  the 
union  of  more  then  one  colony  I  have  been  able  to  find,  is  that 
of  1686,  heretofore  described.3  (p.  119,  plate  IV). 

The  departure  from  the  authorized  English  flag  and  assump- 
tion of  standards  of  their  own  by  the  colonists  evinces  a  growing 
feeling  of  independence  among  the  colonies,  while  the  absence 
of  a  desire  for  separation  is  evident  in  the  acknowledgment  of 
allegiance  implied  by  representing  on  them  the  colors  of  England, 
or  when  from  tenderness  of  conscience  they  were  left  out,  the 
substitution  of  the  arms  of  the  king. 

A  green  tree  was  the  favorite  emblem  of  Massachusetts,  and 
appeared  on  the  coins  of  that  colony  as  early  as  1652. 

By  order  of  the  general  court  in  that  year,  a  mint  was  esta- 
blished, and  it  was  ordered  that  all  pieces  of  money  should  have 
a  double  ring  with  this  inscription  "  Massachusetts,"  and  a  tree 
in  the  centre  on  one  side,  and  "  New  England  "  and  the  year  of 
our  Lord  on  the  other.  This  was  strictly  adhered  to  by  the 
mint  master,  and  for  thirty  years  all  the  coins  not  known  as 
pine  tree  shillings,  sixpences,  etc.,  bore  the  date  An.  Dom.  1652. 
The  rudeness  of  the  impressions  on  these  early  coins  may  ren- 

*I.  J.  G.,  Hist.  Mag.,  Sept.  1867.  8  See  pages  116-118. 

"Vol.  xii,  zd  Series,  1861. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  131 

der  it  uncertain  whether  a  pine  tree  was  intended  to  be  repre- 
sented or  some  other  tree,  though  at  length  it  received  the 
name  of  one  of  the  commonest  tribes  of  trees  in  New  England. 
Mr.  Drake,  in  his  History  of  Boston,  says,  the  tree  on  the  New 
England  flag,  of  which  he  gives  an  illustration,  "  no  more  re- 
sembles a  pine  tree,  than  a  cabbage."  The  following  story 
confirms  the  idea  that  a  pine  tree  may  not  have  been  the  original 
design : 

When  Charles  II  learned  the  colonies'  assumption  of  one  of 
his  prerogatives  to  coin  money,  he  was  very  angry,  but  his  wrath 
was  appeased  by  Sir  Charles  Temple,  a  friend  of  the  colony, 
who  told  him  they  thought  it  no  crime  to  coin  money  for  their 
own  use,  and  took  some  of  the  money  from  his  pocket  and 
handed  to  the  king  who  asked  him  what  tree  that  was  upon  It. 
"  That,"  replied  Sir  Charles,  "  is  the  royal  oak  which  preserved 
your  majesty's  life."  The  remark  put  the  king  in  good  humor, 
and  he  heard  what  Sir  Charles  had  to  say  in  their  favor,  calling 
them  "  a  parcel  of  honest  dogs."  J 

This  New  England  flag  was  undoubtedly  the  earliest  sym- 
bol of  a  union  of  the  colonies,  and  it  probably  went  out  of  use 
after  the  adoption  of  the  union  flag  of  King  James,  by  the  act  of 
parliament  in  1707,  for  all  the  subjects  of  the  British  realm.  As 
we  have  seen,  that  with  the  additional  device  of  a  white  shield 
at  the  union  of  the  crosses  it  was  ordered  (see  ante),  in  1709, 
to  be  worn  by  all  merchant  vessels  commissioned  by  the  colonial 
authorities  of  New  York. 

On  Will  Burgess's  map  of  Boston,  engraved  in  1728,  there  is 
pictured  four  ships  at  anchor  and  a  sloop  under  sail,  all  wearing 
ensigns  bearing  the  union  jack  of  King  James  on  a  staff  at  the 
stern.  One  of  the  ships  appears  to  be  dressed  with  flags  and  is 
firing  a  salute  ;  another  flies  a  long  coach  whip  pennant  at  her 
main. 

Sir  Wm.  Pepperrell,  commander  of  the  expedition  against 
Louisbourg,  in  1 745,  furnished  the  motto  for  the  expeditionary  flag, 
viz  :  Nil  desperandum,  Christeduce  —  Never  despair,  Christ  leads 
us — which  gave  the  enterprise  the  air  of  a  crusade.  Among 
those  engaged  against  Louisbourg  was  William  Vaughan,  a 


1  Curtain's  'Journal. 


132  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

graduate  of  Harvard  University,  and  holding  the  honorary  rank  of 
lieutenant  colonel.  He  conducted  the  first  column  through  the 
woods,  within  sight  of  the  city,  and  saluted  it  with  three  cheers. 
He  headed  a  detachment  consisting  chiefly  of  New  Hampshire 
troops  and  marched  to  the  north-east  part  of  the  harbor  in  the 
night,  where  they  burned  the  warehouses,  containing  the  naval 
stores,  and  staved  a  large  quantity  of  wine  and  brandy. 

The  smoke  of  this  fire  being  driven  by  the  wind  into  the 
grand  battery,  so  terrified  the  French,  that  they  abandoned  it 
and  retired  to  the  city,  having  spiked  the  guns  and  cut  the  hal- 
liards of  the  flag  staff".  The  next  morning  May  2,  1745,  as 
Vaughan  was  returning  with  thirteen  men  only,  he  crept  up 
the  hill  which  overlooked  the  battery,  and  observed  that  the 
chimneys  of  the  barrack  were  without  smoke  and  the  stafF 
without  a  flag.  With  a  bottle  of  brandy  which  he  had  in  his 
pocket,  he  hired  one  of  his  party,  an  Indian,  to  crawl  in  at  an 
embrasure  and  open  the  gate.  He  then  wrote  to  the  general : 
11  May  it  please  your  honor  to  be  informed,  that  by  the  grace 
of  God,  and  the  courage  of  thirteen  men,  I  entered  the  royal 
battery  about  nine  o'clock,  and  am  awaiting  for  a  reinforcement 
and  a  flag."  Before  either  could  arrive,  one  of  the  men 
climbed  up  the  staff"  with  a  red  coat  in  his  teeth  which  he 
fastened  by  a  nail  to  the  top.  This  piece  of  triumphant  vanity 
alarmed  the  city,  and  immediately  an  hundred  men  were  dis- 
patched in  boats  to  retake  the  battery.  But  Vaughan  with 
his  small  party  on  the  naked  bank  and  in  the  face  of  a  smart 
fire  from  the  city  and  the  boats,  kept  them  from  landing,  till 
reinforcements  arrived.1 

The  name  of  the  man  who  hoisted  this  impromptu  flag  with  so 
much  rash  daring,  is  given  in  an  obituary  notice  containing  the 
following  exaggerated  version  of  his  feat,  printed  in  the  Bos- 
ton Gazette,  of  June  3,  1771:  "  Medford,  May  25,  1771. 
This  day  died  here  Mr.  William  Tufts,  Jr.,  aged  about  44 
years.  *  *  *  *  When  about  1 8  years  of  age  he  enlisted 
a  volunteer  into  the  service  of  his  king  and  country  in  the  expe- 
dition against  Cape  Britain  [Breton],  under  the  command  of 
Lt.  General  Pepperrell,  in  the  year  1745,  where  he  signalized 
his  courage  in  a  remarkable  manner  at  the  Island  Battery,  when 

1  Belknap's  History  of  Neiv  Hampshire. 


PL.  V 


ST.   GEORGES   CROSS.  ST.  ANDREWS    CROSS. 


UNION      OR    KINGS     COLORS. IGOG. 


UNION  ENSIGN,  .JAN. 16. 1707.          6RAND  UNION   FLAG  .  JAN  .  1 .    177G 


/XT'//. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  133 

the  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  by  a  detachment  from  the 
army  to  take  it  by  storm.  He  got  into  the  battery,  notwith- 
standing the  heavy  fire  of  the  French  artillery  and  small  arms, 
climbed  up  the  flag  staff,  struck  the  French  colors,  pulled  off 
his  red  great  coat,  and  hoisted  it  on  the  staff  as  English  colors, 
all  which  time  there  was  a  continued  fire  at  him  from  the  small 
arms  of  the  French,  and  got  down  untouched,  tho'  many  bullets 
went  thro'  his  trowsers  and  cloathes."1 

Gov.  Thomas  Pownall,  in  his  Journal  of  A  Voyage  from  Boston 
to  Penobscot  River,  May,  1759,  mentions  calling  the  Indians  to- 
gether and  giving  them  a  union  flag,  probably,  the  union  jack 
with  a  red  field  or  flag,  for  their  protection  and  passport.  He 
also  furnished  them  with  a  red  and  also  a  white  flag,  as  emblems 
of  war  and  amity.  Afterwards  he  mentions  hoisting  the  king's 
colors,  on  a  flag  staff"  at  Fort  Point,  with  the  usual  ceremonies, 
and  saluting  them.2 


FLAGS   OF  THE   PRE-REVOLUTIONARY   AND  REVOLU- 
TIONARY PERIODS. 


1766-1777. 

In  the  cotemporary  newspapers  for  ten  years  preceding  the 
commencement  of  our  revolutionary  struggle,  liberty  poles  and 
trees  and  flags  of  various  devices  are  frequently  mentioned. 

The  obnoxious  stamp  act  was  passed  March  22,  1765,  but  did 
not  go  into  effect  until  November  of  the  same  year.  It  proved 
such  a  source  of  disaffection  and  rebellious  utterances  and  acts, 
that  it  was  repealed  March  18,  1766,  after  having  been  in 
operation  only  four  months.  As  soon  as  the  glad  tidings  reached 
America,  the  colonists  saw  in  its  repeal  a  promise  of  justice  for 
the  future,  and  went  into  frenzies  of  rapture.  They  had  cele- 
brations and  bonfires,  and  were  ready  to  purchase  all  the  goods 
that  England  had  to  sell.  At  New  York,  they  put  up  a  liberty 
pole  in  The  Fields,  with  a  splendid  flag  inscribed  "  The  King, 


1  J.  L.  Sibley  to  the  New  England  Hist,  and  Gen.  Register,  Oct.,  1871. 
3  Maine  Hist.  Co//.,  vol.  v. 


134  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Pitt  and  Liberty  "  They  ordered  a  statue  of  Pitt,  who  had 
insisted  on  the  repeal,  for  Wall  street,  and  another  of  George  III 
for  the  Bowling  green. 

It  was  soon  found  that  the  repeal  of  the  obnoxious  act  was 
only  a  snare  of  their  rulers,  under  cover  of  which,  advantage  was 
taken  of  their  grateful  mood,  to  wring  concessions.  Citizens 
were  seized  by  the  British  men  of  war  in  the  harbor  and  made 
to  serve  in  the  crews.  Fresh  taxes  were  levied.  The  soldiers 
openly  insulted  the  people,  and  in  a  few  weeks  cut  down 
their  liberty  pole.  The  angry  but  patient  people  raised  a  new 
pole,  still  with  the  loyal  motto.  The  next  spring  (1766),  the 
soldiers  cut  it  down  again.  Next  day  came  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  a 
society  grown  up  with  the  peril  of  the  times,  composed  of  brave, 
loyal  and  intelligent  men,  and  set  down  a  new  pole  sheathed  with 
iron  around  its  base — still  with  the  old  loyal  motto:  "To  his 
most  gracious  majesty  George  III,  Mr.  Pitt  and  liberty."  For 
almost  three  years  this  staunch  liberty  pole  stood,  though  the 
soldiers  attacked  it  once  or  twice.  Finally  one  January  day  in 
1770,  a  squad  of  red  coats  mustered  at  its  base,  and  the  gallant 
pole  came  down.  The  liberty  boys  were  ready  with  another 
pole,  but  the  timid  corporation  forbade  them  to  raise  it  on 
public  ground.  So  the  liberty  boys  bought  a  strip  of  private 
ground  close  by  the  old  stand,  eleven  feet  wide  and  a  hundred 
feet  deep,  and  from  the  shipyard,  where  it  had  been  formed,  they 
escorted  their  new  mast,  six  horses,  gay  with  ribbons,  drawing 
it,  a  full  band  going  before,  and  three  flags  flying  free,  in- 
scribed Liberty  and  Property*1  They  took  the  mast  to  the  field, 
and  dug  a  hole  twelve  feet  deep  in  which  they  stepped  the 
liberty  pole,  after  girding  it  with  iron  two-thirds  of  its  length  from 
the  ground,  defying  the  red  coats  to  cut  it  down.  On  it  they 
shipped  a  topmast  twenty-two  feet  long  on  which  was  inscribed 
the  word  Liberty.  This  pole  the  British  cut  down  in  1776. 

At  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  under  a  wide  spreading 
live  oak  tree,  a  little  north  of  the  residence  of  Christopher 
Gadsden,  within  the  square  now  bounded  by  Charlotte,  Wash- 
ington, Brundy,  and  Alexander  streets,  the  patriots  of  1765 


1  Valentine 's  Manual  of  the  City  Councils  of  New  York. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  135 

were  accustomed  to  assemble  to  discuss  the  political  questions 
of  the  day,  and  from  this  circumstance  that  oak,  like  the  great 
elm  in  Boston,  obtained  the  name  of  liberty  tree,  and  it  is 
claimed  and  generally  believed  in  South  Carolina  that  under 
it,  Gadsden,  as  early  as  1764,  first  spoke  of  American  Inde- 
pendence. Underneath  it,  on  the  8th  of  August,  1776,  the  decla- 
ration of  independence  was  proclaimed  to  the  people.  In  1766, 
the  Sons  of  Liberty  met  under  it  and  with  linked  hands  pledged 
themselves  to  resist  when  the  hour  for  resistance  came.  Its 
history  and  associations  were  hateful  to  the  officers  of  the  crown, 
and  after  the  city  surrendered  in  1780,  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
ordered  it  cut  down,  and  a  fire  was  lighted  over  the  stump  by 
piling  its  branches  around  it.  Many  cane  heads  were  made 
from  its  stump  in  after  years,  and  a  part  of  it  was  sawed  into 
thin  boards,  and  made  into  a  neat  ballot  box  and  presented  to 
the  '76  association.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  at  the  room  of 
the  association  during  the  great  conflagration  of  1838.* 

The  old  liberty  tree  in  Boston  was  the  largest  of  a  grove 
of  beautiful  elms  that  stood  in  Hanover  square  at  the  corner  of 
Orange  (now  Washington)  and  Essex  streets,  opposite  the  present 
Boyleston  market.  The  exact  site  is  marked  by  a  building, 
erected  by  the  late  Hon.  David  Sears,  in  whose  front  is  a  bas- 
relief  of  the  tree  with  an  appropriate  inscription.2  It  received 
the  name  of  liberty  tree,  from  the  association  called  the  Sons 
of  Liberty  holding  their  meetings  under  it  during  the  summer  of 
1765.  The  ground  under  it  was  called  Liberty  hall.  A  pole 
fastened  to  its  trunk  rose  far  above  its  branching  top,  and  when  a 
red  flag  was  thrown  to  the  breeze  the  signal  was  understood  by  the 
people.  Here  the  Sons  of  Liberty  held  many  a  notable  meet- 
ing, and  placards  and  banners  were  often  suspended  from  the 
limbs  or  affixed  to  the  body  of  the  tree.  Nov.  20,  1767,  the 
day  on  which  the  new  revenue  law  went  into  effect,  there  was  a 
seditious  hand  bill  posted  on  it.  It  contained  an  exhortation  to 
the  Sons  of  Liberty  to  rise  on  that  day  and  fight  for  their  rights, 
stating  that  if  they  assembled  they  would  be  joined  by  legions  ; 
that  if  they  neglected  this  opportunity,  they  would  be  cursed  by 
all  posterity.  In  June,  1768,  a  red  flag  was  hoisted  over  it,  and 


1  Lossing.  a  Riverside  Magazine. 


136  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

a  paper  stuck  upon  it,  inviting  the  people  to  rise  and  clear  the 
country  of  the  commissioners  and  their  officers.1  July  31,  1769, 
on  Governor  Bernard's  being  ordered  to  England,  the  general 
joy  was  manifested  by  congratulations  among  the  people,  salutes 
from  Hancock's  wharf,  the  union  flag  flying  above  liberty 
tree,  and  bonfires  on  the  hills.  The  flag  was  kept  flying  for  seve- 
ral days.  August  14,  1773,  the  anniversary  of  the  uprising 
against  the  stamp  act  was  celebrated  with  great  spirit,  and  a 
union  flag  floated  over  the  tent  in  which  the  company  had  their 
entertainment.  Nov.  3,  1773,  a  ^arge  ^ag  was  rai§ed  above 
the  liberty  tree  and  the  town  crier  summoned  the  people  to 
assemble.  The  destruction  of  the  tea  followed  this  meeting. 
In  the  winter  of  1775-76,  the  British  soldiers  cut  down  this 
noble  tree  which  from  these  associations  had  become  odious  to 
them.  It  furnished  fourteen  cords  of  wood,  and  probably  went 
to  ashes  in  the  stove  set  up  in  the  Old  South  meeting  house, 
when  the  soldiers  occupied  that  building  for  a  riding  school,  and 
kindled  fires  with  books  and  pamphlets  from  Prince's  valuable 
library,  the  remnant  of  which  is  now  preserved  in  the  Boston 
Public  Library.  The  destruction  of  the  liberty  tree  was  bitterly 
resented. 

At  Taunton,  Mass.,  in  October,  1774,  a  union  flag  was 
raised  on  the  top  of  a  liberty  pole,  with  the  words  Liberty  and 
Union  thereon. 

In  January,  1775,  the  sleds  containing  wood  for  the  in- 
habitants of  Boston  bore  a  union  flag.  The  colonists  had  long 
been  familiar  with  union  flags,  they  now  began  to  associate 
liberty  with  them. 

In  the  earliest  days  of  the  revolution  each  state  seems  to 
have  set  up  its  own  particular  banner.  There  were  probably  no 

*In  1768,  Paul  Revere  published  a  view  of  a  part  of  the  town  of  Boston  in  New 
England,  and  British  ships  of  war  landing  their  troops,  Friday,  Sept.  30,  1768,  of 
which  a  fac  simile  has  been  recently  printed  by  Alfred  L.  Street,  publisher  of  the 
Little  Corporal,  Chicago,  111. 

All  the  ships  in  front  of  the  town,  viz  :  The  Beaver,  Donegal,  Martin,  Glasgow, 
Mermaid,  Romney,  Launceston  and  Bonetta,  with  several  smaller  vessels  carry  the 
English  red  or  union  ensign  of  the  time  on  a  staff  at  the  stern,  a  union  jack  on  the 
bowsprit  and  a  red  pennant  with  a  union  at  the  main  except  the  Glasgow,  which 
has  a  red  broad  pennant  at  her  main.  The  Glasgow  several  years  later  played  an 
important  part  at  the  battle  of  Bunker's  hill.  The  troops  are  landed  and  being  landed  on 
long  wharf,  and  have  two  pairs  of  colors,  one  of  each  pair  is  the  ordinary  union  jack, 
the  other  a  red  flag  with  a  union  jack  in  the  centre  of  it.  This  is  probably  the  red 
union  jack,  elsewhere  mentioned. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  137 

colors  worn  by  the  handful  of  Americans  hastily  called  together 
at  the  battle  of  Lexington,  but  immediately  after,  the  Connec- 
ticut troops  had  standards,  bearing  on  them  the  arms  of  that 
colony,  with  the  motto,  ^ui  transtulit  sustinet,  in  letters  of 
gold,  which  was  freely  translated,  "  God  who  transported  us 
hither,  will  support  us."  By  an  act  of  the  provincial  congress 
of  Connecticut,  July  I,  1775,  the  regiments  were  distinguished 
by  the  colors  of  their  standards,  viz:  for  the  7th,  blue,  8th, 
orange,  etc. 

In  March,  1775,  a  union  flag  with  a  red  field  having  on  one 
side  this  inscription,  Geo.  Rex  and  the  Liberties  of  America,  and  on 
the  other  No  Popery,  was  hoisted  at  New  York.     The  armed  ships 
of  New  York  of  that  time  are  said  to  have 
had  a  black  beaver  for  their  device  on  their 
flag.     This  was  the  device   of  the  colonial 
seal  of  New  Netherland,  and  is  still  seen 
on  the  seal  of  the  city  of  New  York. 

No  description  of  the  union  flags  of  these 
times  has  been  preserved.    Aged  people  living 
Colonial  Seal  of  New    a  few  years  since  who  well  remembered  the 
processions  and  the  great  flags,  could  not  re- 
call their  devices,  nor  has  any  particular  description  of  them  been 
found  in  the  cotemporaneous  private  diaries  or  public  newspapers ; 
nevertheless  it  is  more  than  probable  and  almost  certain,  that, 
these  flags  were  the  familiar  flags  of  the  English  and   Scotch 
union,  established  in  1707,  and  long  known  as   union  flags,  in- 
scribed with  various  popular  and  patriotic  mottoes. 

The  Hist.  Chronicle  of  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  under  date 
April  17,  1775,  records  "by  a  ship  just  arrived  at  Bristol  from 
America,  it  is  reported  that  the  Americans  have  hoisted  their 
standard  of  liberty  at  Salem." 

Neither  contemporary  accounts  nor  the  recollections  of  old 
soldiers,  are  satisfactory  respecting  the  flags  used  at  the  battle 
of  Bunker  hill,  on  the  I7th  of  June,  I775-1  It  is  not  positively 


1  The  British  used  the  following  signals  :  "  Signals  for  boats  in  divisions,  moving 
to  the  attack  on  the  rebels  on  the  Heights  of  Charleston,  June  17,  1775,  viz.:  i. 
Blue  flag,  to  advance.  Yellow  ditto,  to  lay  on  oars.  Red  ditto,  to  land." — Or- 
derly Soot  of  Major  Gen.  Hoiue. 

18 


138  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

ascertained  that  any  were  used  by  the  Americans,  certainly  none 
were  captured  from  them  by  the  British. 

A  eulogy  on  Warren,  however,  written  soon  after  the  battle 
describing  the  astonishment  of  the  British  on  the  morning  of 
the  battle  says  : 

"  Columbia's  troops  are  seen  in  dread  array 
And  waving  streamers  in  the  air  display." 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  poet  does  not  give  a  description  of 
these  fanciful  waving  streamers  ;  probably,  says  another  writer, 
"  they  were  as  various  as  the  troops  were  motley."  Tradition 
asserts  a  red  flag  was  used  with  the  motto,  Come  if  you  dare.* 
Trumbull  in  his  celebrated  picture  of  the  battle  now  in  the  ro- 
tunda of  the  Capitol  at  Washington  has  represented  a  red  flag 
having  a  white  canton  bearing  a  green  pine  tree.2 

In  a  manuscript  plan  of  the  battle,  colors  are  represented  in 
the  centre  of  each  British  regiment. 

Botta 3  says  that  Doctor  Warren,  finding  the  corps  he  com- 
manded pursued  by  the  enemy,  despising  all  danger  stood  alone 
before  the  ranks  endeavoring  to  rally  his  men  and  to  encourage 
them  by  his  example.  He  reminded  them  of  the  motto  inscribed 
on  their  ensigns,  on  the  one  side  of  which  were  these  words  "  An 
appeal  to  Heaven  "  and  on  the  other  "  £)ui  transtulit  susttnet" 
meaning  that  the  same  Providence  which  brought  their  ancestors 
through  so  many  perils  to  a  place  of  refuge  would  also  deign  to 
support  their  descendants. 

1  At  a  patriotic  celebration  in  1825,  a  flag  was  borne  which  was  said  to  have  been 
unfurled  at  Bunker  hill,  and  tradition  states   that  one  was  hoisted  at  the  redoubt,  and 
that  Gage  and  his  officers  were  puzzled  to  read   by  their  glasses   its    motto.     A   whig 
told  them  it  was  "  Come  if  you  dare" 

2  This,  however,  cannot  be  considered   authoritative.      Painters  frequently  take   a 
poet's  license  and  are  not  always  particular  in  the  accuracy  of  the  cotemporary  accesso- 
ries of  their  paintings.     Thus  Leutze  in  his  celebrated  painting  of  Washington  cross- 
ing the  Delaware,  Dec.  25,  1776,  conspicuously  displays  the  American  flag   with  the 
blue  field  and  union  of  white  stars,  although  the  flag  had  no  recognized  existence  be- 
fore the  1 4th  of  June  following.      Yet  this   inaccurate    historical   tableau  has    been 
selected  to  embellish  the  face  of  the  fifty  dollar  notes  of  our  national  banks. 

The  gold  medal  awarded  to  General  Daniel  Morgan  for  the  battle  of  Cowpens, 
January  17,  1781,  has  on  its  reverse  a  mounted  officer  at  the  head  of  his  troops 
charging  a  flying  foe,  while  behind  and  over  the  officer  are  two  large  and  prominent 
banners  simply  striped  with  thirteen  stripes  alternate  red  and  white  without  the  stars, 
though  the  stars  had  been  for  more  than  three  years  blazoned  on  the  American  en- 
signs. The  medal  was  probably  struck  in  France. 

3  History  of  American  Revolution. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

An  intelligent  old  lady  (Mrs.  Manning)  informed  Mr.  Los- 
sing1  that  her  father  who  was  in  the  battle  assisted  in  hoisting 

the  standard,  and  she  had  heard  him 
speak  of  it  as  a  noble  flag.  The 
ground  of  which  was  blue  with  one 
corner  quartered  by  the  red  cross 
of  St.  George,  in  one  section  of 
which  was  a  pine  tree. 

On  the  1 8th  of  July,  a  month 
after  the  battle,  Major  General  Put- 
nam assembled  his  division  on  the 
height  of  Prospect  hill,  to  have 
read  to  it  the  manifesto  of  con- 
Revolutionary  Flag.  gress  signed  by  john  Hancock  its 

president,  and  countersigned  by  Charles  Thomson,  secretary. 
The  reading  was  followed  by  a  prayer  suited  to  the  occasion, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  prayer,  at  signal  from  the  general,  the 
troops  cried  Amen,  and  at  the  same  instant  the  artillery  of  the 
fort  thundered  a  general  salute  and  the  colors  recently  sent  to 
General  Putnam  bearing  on  the  one  side,  the  Connecticut  motto, 
"  £>ui  transtulit  sustinet"  and  on  the  other  the  recognized  motto 
of  Massachusetts,  "  An  appeal  to  Heaven"  were  unfurled, 
the  same  ceremony  was  observed  in  the  other  divisions.2 

Lieut.  Paul  Lunt  in  his  diary,  which  has  been  printed,  says : 
"  May  10,  1775,  marched  from  Newburyport  with  60  men,Capt. 
Ezra  Lunt,  commander,  and  May  12,  at  n  o'clock  arrived  at 
Cambridge.  *  *  *  June  16,  our  men  went  to  Charlestown 
and  entrenched  on  a  hill  beyond  Bunkers  Hill.  *  *  * 
June  17,  the  regulars  landed  a  number  of  troops  and  we 
engaged  them.  They  drove  us  off  the  hill  and  burned 
Chariestown.  July  2,  Gen.  Washington  came  into  the  camp. 
*  *  *  Juty  1 8th.  This  morning  a  manifesto  was  read  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Leonard,  chaplain  of  the  Connecticut  forces  upon 
Prospect  Hill  in  Charlestown.  Our  standard  was  presented  in 
the  midst  of  the  regiments  with  this  inscription  upon  it  '  Appeal 
to  Heaven^  after  which  Mr.  Leonard  made  a  short  prayer,  and 


1  Field  Book  of  the  American  Revolution,  vol.  i,  p.  541. 

2  Bancrofts  History  of  the  United  States.      Frothingham's  Siege  of  Boston. 


140 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


then  we  were  dismissed,  by  the  discharge   of  a  cannon,  three 
cheers  and  a  war  whoop  by  the  Indians." 

June  19,  1775*  two  days  after  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  and 
before  the  news  could  have  reached  Georgia,  there  was  a  meet- 
ing of  a  committee  of  the  leading  men  of  Savannah,  to  enforce 
the  requirements  of  the  American  association.  After  the  meet- 
ing a  dinner  was  had  at  Tondee's  tavern,  where  a  union  flag  was 
hoisted  upon  a  liberty  pole,  and  two 
pieces  of  artillery  placed  under  it. 

In  September,  1775,  Arnold  made 
his  famous  expedition  through  Maine 
to  Canada,  and  when  drifting  down 
the  gentle  current  of  the  Dead  river, 
came  suddenly  in  sight  of  a  lofty  moun- 
tain covered  with  snow,  at  the  foot  of 
which  he  encamped  three  days,  raising 
the  continental  flag  over  his  tent.  What 
its  color  was,  or  the  devices  upon  it,  we 
have  no  means  of  ascertaining.  The 
mountain  is  now  known  as  Mount  Bige- 
jow^  tradition  asserting  that  Major  Bige- 
low  of  Arnold's  little  army  ascended  to  its  summit  hoping  to 
see  the  spires  of  Quebec. 

During  Sept.,  I775>  two  strong  floating  batteries  were  launched 
on  the  Charles  river,  and  opened  a  fire  toward  the  last  of  Oc- 

tober upon  Boston  that  produced  great 
alarm  and  damaged  several  houses. 
They  appear  to  have  been  made  of 
strong  planks  pierced  near  the  water 
line,  for  oars  ;  and  along  the  sides 
,  higher  up  for  light  and  musketry.  A 

American  Floating  Battery,  used       & 

at  the  siege  of  Boston,         heavy  gun  was  placed  at  each  end,  and 

5cript'       upon  the  top  were  four  swivels.     Their 

ensign  was  a  pine  tree  flag,1  the  six  schooners  first  commissioned 

by  Washington  and  the  first  vessels  commissioned  by  the  united 

colonies  sailed  under  the  pine  tree  flag.2     Col.  Reed  in  a  letter 

1  Lossing's  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution, 

2  Capt.    John  Selman    and    Nicholas   Broughton   were    commissioned    by    Gen. 
Washington  (according  to  the  statement  of  Selman  to  Elbridge  Gerry),  in  the  fall  of 


The  Pine  Tree  Flag, 
fh>m  a  ma?  published  in  Paria,  me. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

from  Cambridge  to  Cols.  Glover  and  Moylan  under  date  Oct. 
20,  1775,  says  :  "Please  fix  upon  some  particular  color  for  a 
flag,  and  a  signal  by  which  our  vessels  may  know  one  another. 
What  do  you  think  of  a  flag  with  a  white  ground,  and  a  tree 
in  the  middle,  the  motto  '  AN  APPEAL  TO  HEAVEN,' 

1775,  both  living  at  Marblehead.  "  The  latter  as  commodore  of  two  small  schooners, 
one  the  Lynch  mounting  six  four  pounders  and  ten  swivels,  and  manned  by 
seventy  seamen  and  the  other  the  Franklin  of  less  force  having  sixty-five.  The 
commodore  hoisted  his  broad  pendant  on  board  the  Lynch,  and  Selman  commanded 
the  latter. 

"  These  vessels  were  ordered  to  the  river  St.  Lawrence  to  intercept  an  ammunition 
vessel  bound  to  Quebec,  but  missing  her,  they  took  ten  other  vessels  and  Governor 
Wright  of  St.  Johns,  all  of  which  were  released,  as  we  had  waged  a  ministerial  war 
and  not  one  against  our  most  gracious  sovereign." —  Letter  of  E.  Gerry  to  John  Adams, 
dated  Feb.  9,  1813. 

The  form  of  commission  issued  by  General  Washington  to  the  officers  of  the  ves- 
sels fitted  out  by  him,  under  authority  of  the  continental  congress,  and  the  officers  so 
commissioned,  was  as  follows  : 

By  his  excellency  George  Washington,  Esq.,  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  of  the 

To  William  Burke,  Esq.  United  C°lonieS' 

By  virtue  of  the  powers  and  authorities  to  me  given  by  the  honorable  contin- 
ental congress,  I  do  hereby  constitute  and  appoint  you  captain  and  commander 
of  the  schooner  Warren  now  lying  at  Beverly  port,  in  the  service  of  the 
united  colonies  of  North  America,  to  have,  hold,  exercise,  and  enjoy  the  said  office  of 
captain  and  commander  of  the  said  vessel,  and  to  perform  and  execute  all  matters  and 
things  which  to  your  said  office  do,  or  may  of  right  belong  or  appertain,  until  further 
order  shall  be  given  herein  by  the  honorable  continental  congress,  myself,  or  any  fu- 
ture commander-in-chief  of  said  army,  willing  and  commanding  all  officers,  soldiers, 
and  persons  whatsoever,  any  way  concerned,  to  be  obedient  and  assisting  to  you  in 
the  due  execution  of  this  commission. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  at  Cambridge,  this  ist  day  of  February ,  Annoque 
Domini,  1776.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

By  his  excellency's  command. 

To  Captain  William  Burke,  of  the  Warren. 

Officers  of  the  armed  vessels,  fated  out  by  order  of  General  Washington,  on  the  ist  day 
of  February,  1776. 

Hancock,.  .  .  .John  Manley, Captain  and  Com I  January,  1776. 

Richard  Stiles, ist  Lieutenant, I  January,  1776. 

Nicholas  Ogilby,  ...  2d  Lieutenant, I  January,  1776. 

Lee, Daniel  Waters,.  ....  Captain, 20  January,  1777. 

William  Kissick,.  . .  ist  Lieutenant, 20  January,  1776. 

John  Gill, 2d  Lieutenant, 20  January,  1776. 


John  Desmond,  .....  Master, 20 

Franklin,  .  .  .Samuel  Tucker,.  .  .  .  Captain, 20  _ 

Edward  Phittiplace,  .  ist  Lieutenant, 20 

Francis  Salter, 2d  Lieutenant, 20  _ 


anuary,  1776. 
anuary,  1776. 
anuary,  1776. 
anuary,  1776. 
anuary,  1776. 


Harrison,  .  . .  Charles  Dyar, Captain, 20 

Thomas  Dote, ist  Lieutenant, 23  January,  1776. 

John  Wigglesworth,.  2d  Lieutenant, 20  January,  1776. 

Lynch, John  Ayres, Captain, 20  January,  1776. 

John  Roche, ist  Lieutenant, 20  January,  1776. 

John  Tiley,.  .  , 2d  Lieutenant, 20  January,  1776. 

Warren,. .  .  .William  Burke,  .  .  .  Captain, I  February,  1776. 

American  Archives,  4th  series,  vol.  iv,  pp.  909,  910. 


142  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

this  is  the  flag  of  our  floating  batteries."  Colonels  Moylan  and 
Glover  replied  the  next  day  that  as  Broughton  and  Selman  who 
sailed  that  morning  had  none  but  their  old  colors  (probably  the 
old  English  union  ensign)  they  had  appointed  as  the  signal  by 
which  they  could  be  known  to  their  friends  the  ensign  at  the 
main  topping  lift. 

The  suggestion  of  Col.  Reed  seems,  however,  to  have  been 
soon  adopted.  The  London  Chronicle  for  January,  1776,  describ- 
ing the  flag  of  a  captured  cruiser  says :  "  There  is  in  the  admi- 
ralty office  the  flag  of  a  provincial  privateer.  The  field  is  white 
bunting.  On  the  middle  is  a  green  pine  tree,  and  upon  the 
opposite  side  is  the  motto,  *-An  appeal  to  Heaven?  "  April,  1776, 
the  Massachusetts  council  passed  a  series  of  resolutions  pro- 
viding for  the  regulation  of  the  sea  service,  among  which  was 
the  following : 

"Resolved^  That  the  uniform  of  the  officers  be  green  and  white, 
and  that  they  furnish  themselves  accordingly,  and  that  the  colors 
be  a  white  flag  with  a  green  pine  tree  and  the  inscription  '  An 
appeal  to  Heaven.' '' 

According  to  the  English  newspapers,  privateers  throughout 
this  year  wearing  a  flag  of  this  description  were  captured  and 
carried  into  British  ports.  "Jan.  6,  1776,  the  Tartar,  Capt. 
Meadows,  arrived  at  Portsmouth,  England,  from  Boston  with 
over  seventy  men,  the  crew  of  an  American  privateer  that 
mounted  10  guns  taken  by  the  Fowry  man-of-war.  Capt. 
Meadows  likewise  brought  her  colors,  which  are  a  pale  green 
palm  tree  upon  a  white  field  with  this  motto  :  '  We  appeal  to 
Heaven.'  "  She  was  taken  on  the  Massachusetts  coast,  cruising 
for  transports  and  was  sent  out  by  the  council  of  that  province. 

Commodore  Samuel  Tucker,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Hon. 
John  Holmes,  dated  March  6,  iSiS,1  says:  "  The  first  cruise  I 
made  was  in  Jan.,  1776,  in  the  schooner  Franklin  of  70  tons, 
equipped  by  order  of  Gen.  Washington,  and  I  had  to  purchase 
the  small  arms  to  encounter  the  enemy,  with  money  from  my 
own  pocket  or  go  without ;  and  my  wife  made  the  banner  I 
fought  under,  the  field  of  which  was  white,  and  the  union  green 
made  therein  in  the  figure  of  a  pine  tree,  made  of  cloth  of  her 
own  purchasing,  at  her  own  expense." 

1  ShcparcTs  Life  of  Commodore  Tucker. 


PL.  VI 


FLAGS     OF     1775-76  . 


AN  APPEAL  TO  HEAVEN 


4 


LIBERTY  ScUNION 


13' 


CUfFOHO'S    LI7 H.BOSTON. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  143 

Under  these  colors  he  captured  the  ship  George  and  brig 
Arabella  transports,  having  on  board  about  two  hundred  and 
eighty  Highland  troops  of  Gen.  Eraser's  corps. 

"Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  June  10,  1776,  on  Sunday,  arrived  from 
off  Boston,  a  privateer  brig,  called  the  Yankee  Hero,  Capt. 
Tracy.  She  was  taken  by  the  Milford  frigate  28  guns,  Capt. 
Burr,  after  an  obstinate  engagement,  in  which  the  captain  of  the 
privateer  received  a  ball  through  his  thigh,  soon  after  which  she 
struck.  She  is  a  fine  vessel  and  mounts  twelve  carriage  guns 
and  six  swivels.  Her  colors  were  a  pine  tree  on  a  white  field." 

Instances  of  the  use  of  this  pine  tree  flag  from  Oct.,  1775, 
to  July,  1776,  could  be  multiplied. 

On  the  J3th  of  Sept.,  1775,  Col.  Moultrie  received  an  order 
from  the  council  of  safety  for  taking  Fort  Johnson  on  James 
island,  S.  C.,1  and  a  flag  being  thought  necessary  Col.  Moultrie 
was  requested  to  procure  one  by  the  council,  and  had  a  large 
blue  flag  made,  with  a  crescent  in  the  dexter  corner  to  be 
uniform  with  the  troops  of  the  garrison  who  were  clothed  in 
blue  and  wore  silver  crescents  in  front  of  their  caps,2  inscribed 
"  Liberty  or  Death."  He  said  "  this  was  the  first  American  flag 
displayed  in  the  south."  When  Moultrie  hoisted  this  flag  the 
timid  people  said  it  had  the  appearance  of  a  declaration  of  war, 
and  the  captain  of  the  Tamar,  then  being  off  Charleston,  would 
look  upon  it  as  an  insult  and  flag  of  defiance.  A  union  flag  had  been 
displayed  at  Savannah  the  preceding  June.3  June  28,  1776,  the 
standard  advanced  by  Col.  Moultrie  on  the  south-east  bastion  of 
Fort  Sullivan,  or  Moultrie  as  it  was  afterwards  named  on  account 
of  his  gallant  defence  of  it,  was  the  same  crescent  flag  with  the 
word  LIBERTY  emblazoned  upon  it.4 

At  the  commencement  of  the  action,  the  crescent  flag  that 
waved  opposite  the  union  flag  upon  the  western  bastion,  fell 
upon  the  outside  upon  the  beach.  Sergeant  Jasper  leaped  the 
parapet,  walked  the  whole  length  of  the  fort,  picked  up  the  flag, 
fastened  it  on  a  sponge  staff,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  iron  hail 
pouring  upon  the  fortress,  and  in  sight  of  the  whole  British  fleet 
fixed  the  flag  firmly  upon  the  bastion.  Three  cheers  greeted 
him  as  he  leaped  within  the  fort.  On  the  day  after  the  battle 

1  Holmes  $  Annals.          2  Col.  M.oultrle's  Memoirs  of  the  Revolution,  vol.  I,  p.  90. 
8  See  ante.  *  Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States. 


144  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Gov.  Rutledge  visited  the  fort,  and  rewarded  Jasper  for  his  valor 
by  presenting  him  with  his  own  small  sword,  which  he  was 
wearing,  and  thanked  him  in  the  name  of  his  country.  He 
offered  him  a  lieutenant's  commission,  but  Jasper  who  could 
neither  read  nor  write  declined  it,  saying  "  I  am  not  fit  to  keep 
officers'  company,  I  am  but  a  sergeant." 

On  the  day  after  the  battle  the  British  fleet  left  Charleston 
harbor.  The  joy  of  the  Americans  was  unbounded,  and  the 
following  day  (June  30)  the  wife  of  Major  Bernard  Elliot  pre- 
sented Col.  Moultrie's  regiment  with  a  pair  of  elegant  colors,  one 
of  them  was  of  fine  blue  silk,  the  other  of  fine  red  silk,  both 
richly  embroidered.  They  were  afterwards  planted  on  the  walls 
of  Savannah  (Oct.  9,  1778),  beside  the  lilies  of  France.  Lieu- 
tenants Hume  and  Buck  who  carried  them  having  "fallen,  Lieu- 
tenant Gray  of  the  S.  C.  regiment  seized  their  standards,  and 
kept  them  erect,  until  he  was  striken  by  a  bullet,  when  brave 
Sergeant  Jasper  sprang  forward,  and  had  just  fastened  them  on 
the  parapet,  when  a  rifle  ball  pierced  him,  and  he  fell  into  the 
ditch.  He  was  carried  to  camp  and  soon  after  expired.  Just 
before  he  died  he  said  to  Major  Harry  "  Tell  Mrs.  Elliot  I  lost 
my  life  supporting  the  colors  she  gave  to  our  regiment."1 

The  declaration  of  independence  was  read  by  Major  Elliot 
at  Charleston,  on  the  5th  Aug.,  1776,  to  the  people  young  and 
old  and  of  both  sexes  assembled  around  liberty  pole,  with  all  the 
military  of  the  city  and  vicinity,  flags  flying  and  drums  beating. 
Among  the  flags  were  without  doubt  these  standards  presented  by 
his  wife.  They  were  captured  when  Charleston  surrendered, 
May  12,  1780,  and  were  among  the  British  trophies  preserved 
in  the  Tower  of  London. 

The  general  congress,  having  previously  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  prepare  a  plan,  on  the  I3th  of  Oct.,  1775,  after  some 
debate  "Resolved,  That  a  swift  sailing  vessel  to  carry  the  carriage 
guns  and  a  proportionable  number  of  swivels,  with  eighty  men 
be  fitted  with  all  possible  dispatch  for  a  cruise  of  three  months." 
*  *  *  It  was  also  "  Resolved,  That  another  vessel  be  fitted 
for  the  same  purposes  "  and  "  that  a  marine  committee  consisting 
of  Messrs.  Dean,  Langdon  and  Gadsden  report  their  opinion  of  a 


1  Lossing  s  Field  Bookofthe  Re-volution,  vol.  n,  pp.  532,  551. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  145 

proper  vessel  and  also  an  estimate  of  the  expense."  On  the 
I  yth  of  Oct.,  the  committee  brought  in  their  estimate  and  report, 
which  after  debate  was  recommitted,  and  on  the  3Oth  the  com- 
mittee reported  that  the  second  vessel  be  of  such  a  size  as  to 
carry  fourteen  guns  and  a  proportionate  number  of  swivels  and 
men  ;  and  it  was  further  resolved  that  two  more  vessels  be  fitted 
out  with  all  expedition  j  the  one  to  carry  not  exceeding  twenty 
guns,  and  the  other  not  exceeding  thirty-six  guns  with  a  pro- 
portionate number  of  swivels  and  men  to  be  employed  for  the 
protection  and  defence  of  the  United  Colonies,  as  congress 
shall  direct.  Four  new  members  were  added  to  the  committee, 
viz :  Mr.  Hopkins,  Mr.  Hewes,  Mr.  R.  H.  Lee  and  Mr.  John 
Adams.1 

On  the  Qth  of  Nov.,  1775,  it  was  "  Resolved,  That  two  batta- 
lions of  marines  be  raised,  to  be  enlisted  and  commissioned  to 
serve  for  and  during  the  present  war  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  colonies,  and  to  be  considered  as  a  part  of  the  continental 
army  of  Boston,  particular  care  to  be  taken,  that  no  persons  be 
appointed  or  enlisted  into  said  battalions  but  such  as  are  good 
seamen,  or  so  acquainted  with  maritime  affairs  as  to  be  able  to 
serve  to  advantage  by  sea,  when  required."  By  a  resolution  of 
the  3Oth,  they  were  ordered  to  be  raised  independent  of  the 
army  ordered  for  service  in  Massachusetts. 

On  the  23d  of  Nov.,  the  naval  committee  reported  rules  for 
the  government  of  the  navy,  which  were  adopted  on  the  28th. 
On  the  2d  of  Dec.,  the  committee  were  directed  to  prepare  a 
proper  commission  for  the  captains  and  commanders  of  the  ships 
of  war  in  the  service  of  the  United  Colonies,2  and  they  reported 
one  which  was  adopted  the  same  day.  On  the  Qth  of  Dec., 
congress  established  the  pay  of  the  navy,  and  on  the  nth  of 
Dec.,  it  was  resolved  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  devise 
ways  and  means  for  furnishing  these  colonies  with  a  naval  arma- 
ment and  report  with  convenient  speed.  It  was  also  resolved 
that  this  committee  consist  of  a  member  from  each  colony, 
viz  :  Mr.  Bartlett,  Mr.  S.  Adams,  Mr.  Hopkins,  Mr.  Deane, 
Mr.  Lewis,  Mr.  Crane,  Mr.  Morris,  Mr.  Read,  Mr.  Paca, 
Mr.  R.  A.  Lee,  Mr.  Hewes,  and  Mr.  Gadsden. 

1  Journal  of  Congress,  vol.  I,  p.  2,04. 

19 


146  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

On  the  1 3th,  this  committee  reported,  and  it  was  resolved 
that  five  ships  of  thirty-two  guns  —  five  of  twenty-eight  guns, 
three  of  twenty-  four  guns,  can  be  fitted  for  sea  probably  by  the 
last  of  March  next,  viz  :  "  in  New  Hampshire,  one  ;  in  Massa- 
chusetts, two  ;  in  Connecticut,  one ;  in  Rhode  Island,  two  ; 
in  New  York,  two  ;  in  Peru,  four  ;  in  Maryland,  one."  The 
probable  cost  of  these  vessels  was  estimated  at  $866,  666|.  The 
next  day  the  same  committee,  Mr.  Chase  being  substituted  for 
Mr.  Paca,  was  appointed  to  carry  out  the  report. 

It  will  be  seen,  these  provisions  for  a  continental  navy  were 
prior  to  the  resolutions  of  the  Massachusetts  council,  April, 
1776,  providing  a  green  uniform  and  the  pine  tree  flag  for  her 
state  marine ;  but  we  do  not  learn  from  these  resolves  that  any 
provision  was  made  for  a  national  flag  for  this  newly  created 
navy  of  the  United  Colonies. 

John  Jay,  in  a  letter  dated  July,  1776,  three  months  later, 
states  congress  had  made  no  order  at  that  date,  u  concerning 
continental  colors,  and  that  captains  of  the  armed  vessels  had 
followed  their  own  fancies."  He  names  as  one  device,  a  rattle- 
snake rearing  its  crest  and  shaking  its  rattles  and  having  the 
motto :  "  Don't  tread  on  me." 

De  Benvouloir,  the  discreet  emissary  of  Vergennes,  who 
arrived  in  Philadelphia  the  latter  part  of  1775,  just  after  con- 
gress had  ordered  the  thirteen  ships  of  war,  reports  to  the  French 
minister  :  "  They  have  given  up  the  English  flag  and  have  taken 
for  their  devices  a  rattlesnake  with  thirteen  rattles  and  a  mailed 
arm  holding  thirteen  arrows." 

The  London  Chronicle^  July  27,  1776,  says:  "The  colors  of  the 
American  fleet  have  a  snake  with  thirteen  rattles,  the  fourteenth 
budding,  described  in  the  attitude  of  going  to  strike,  with  this 
motto  :  '  Don't  tread  on  me.' ' 

The  number  thirteen,  representative  of  the  number  of  colonies, 
seems  to  have  been  constantly  in  mind,  thus  thirteen  vessels  are 
ordered  to  be  built,  thirteen  stripes  are  placed  on  the  flag, 
thirteen  arrows  are  grasped  in  a  mailed  hand,  thirteen  rattles  on 
the  rattlesnake,  and  later  thirteen  arrows  in  the  talons  of  the 
eagle. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  147 

The  device  of  a  rattlesnake  was  a  favorite  one  with  the 
colonists,  and  its  origin  as  an  American  emblem  deserves  inves- 
tigation, as  a  curious  feature  in  our  national  history.1 

"It  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  the  choice  of  this  reptile,  as  a 
representative  of  the  colonies,  had  attained  a  firm  position  in  the 
regard  of  the  colonists  long  before  difficulties  with  Great  Britain 
were  anticipated.  As  early  as  April,  1751,  an  account  of  the 
trial  of  Samuel  Sanders,  an  English  transported  convict,  for  the 
murder  of  Simon  Gerty,  occasioned  the  following  reflections, 
which  were  published  in  Franklin's  paper,  the  Pennsylvania 
Gazette  : 

"  '  When  we  see  our  papers  filled  continually  with  accounts  of  the  most 
audacious  robberies,  the  most  cruel  murders,  and  an  infinity  of  other 
villainies  perpetrated  by  convicts  transported  from  Europe,  what  melan- 
choly, what  terrible  reflections,  must  it  occasion !  What  will  become 
our  position  ?  These  are  some  of  thy  favors,  Britain,  and  thou  art  called 
the  mother  country  ?  But  what  good  mother  ever  sent  thieves  and  villains 
to  accompany  her  children,  to  corrupt  some  with  infectious  vices  and 
murder  the  rest  ?  What  father  ever  endeavors  to  spread  plague  in  his 
own  family  ?  We  don't  ask  fish,  but  tbou  givest  us  serpents,  and  worse 
than  serpents,  in  which  Britain  shows  a  more  sovereign  contempt  for  us 
than  by  emptying  her  jails  into  our  settlements.  What  must  we  think 
of  that  board  which  has  advocated  the  repeal  of  every  law  that  we  have 
hitherto  made  to  prevent  this  deluge  of  wickedness  from  overwhelming  us  ? 
and  with  this  cruel  sarcasm  :  that  those  laws  were  against  the  public 
utility,  for  they  tended  to  prevent  the  improvement  and  well-peopling  of 
the  colonies.  And  what  must  we  think  of  those  merchants  who,  for  the 
sake  of  a  little  paltry  gain,  will  be  concerned  in  importing  and  disposing 
of  such  cargoes  ?  ' 

"  This  remonstrance,  certainly  a  bold  one  for  the  time,  was 
commented  upon  in  a  succeeding  number  of  the  same  Gazette, 
by  a  writer  who  proposed  that  the  colonists  should  send  to  Eng- 
land in  return  '  a  cargo  of  rattlesnakes,  which  should  be  dis- 
tributed in  St.  James's  Park,  Spring  Garden,  and  other  places  of 
pleasure,  and  particularly  in  noblemen's  gardens.'  He  adds  : 


1  The   account  following  is  derived  in  part  from  an  article   printed  in  the  Phila. 
Sunday  Dispatch,  1871. 


148  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

"  '  Let  no  private  interests  obstruct  public  utility.  Our  mother  knows 
what  is  best  for  us.  What  is  a  little  housebreaking,  shoplifting,  or  high- 
way robbery  ?  What  is  a  son  now  and  then  corrupted  and  hanged,  a 
daughter  debauched,  a  wife  stabbed,  a  husband's  throat  cut,  or  a  child's 
brains  beat  out  with  an  axe,  compared  with  '  the  improvement  and  well- 
peopling  of  the  colonies  ? ' 

"  This  idea  of  rendering  the  rattlesnake  a  means  of  retribution 
for  the  wrongs  of  America  could  scarcely  have  been  forgotten, 
and  received  a  new  value  three  years  afterwards,  when,  to  stimu- 
late the  colonies  to  a  concert  of  measures  against  the  Indians, 
the  device  of  a  snake  cut  into  eight  parts,  representing  the 
colonies  then  engaged  in  the  war  against  the  French  and  Indians, 
was  published  at  the  head  of  the  Gazette  with  the  motto,  l  Join 
or  die.'  This  device  was  adopted  by  other  newspapers  in  the 
colonies,  and  in  1775  it  was  placed  at  the 
head  of  the  Pennsylvania  'Journal,  the 
head  representing  New  England,  and  the 
other  disjointed  portions  being  marked 

Snake  Device  with  the  initlals>  N'  Y'>  N«    J'»  P«>  M'> 

V.,  N.   C.,  S.  C.,  and  G.     The  motto 

then  was,  '  Unite  or  die.'  These  matters  may  have  kept  the 
rattlesnake  in  the  memory  of  the  provincials,  and  may  have  led 
to  its  early  adoption. 

"  Bradford's  Pennsylvania  Journal  of  December  27,  1775,  con- 
tains the  following  remarkable  speculations  upon  the  reasons 
for  the  adoption  of  this  emblem.  This  composition  has  been 
ascribed  to  Dr.  Franklin,  without  any  very  good  cause.  The 
journal  in  which  it  was  published  was  one  with  which  Dr. 
Franklin  was  not  friendly.  He  would  have  been  most  likely  to 
have  sent  his  communication  to  the  Gazette,  which  was  still 
partly  owned  by  his  old  partner,  David  Hall. 

" '  Messrs.  Printers : — I  observed  on  one  of  the  drums  belonging  to  the 
marines,  now  raising,  there  was  painted  a  rattlesnake,  with  this  modest 
motto  under  it,  '  Don't  tread  on  me ! '  As  I  know  it  is  the  custom  to 
have  some  device  on  the  arms  of  every  country,  I  supposed  this  might  be 
intended  for  the  arms  of  North  America.  As  I  have  nothing  to  do  with 
public  affairs,  and  as  my  time  is  perfectly  my  own,  in  order  to  divert  an 


"UNITE  ORDIE 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  149 

idle  hour  I  sat  down  to  guess  what  might  have  been  intended  by  this  un- 
common device.  I  took  care,  however,  to  consult  on  this  occasion  a 
person  acquainted  with  heraldry,  from  whom  I  learned  that  it  is  a  rule 
among  the  learned  in  that  science  that  the  worthy  properties  of  an  animal 
in  a  crest  shall  be  considered,  and  that  the  base  ones  cannot  have  been 
intended.  He  likewise  informed  me  that  the  ancients  considered  the 
serpent  as  an  emblem  of  wisdom,  and,  in  a  certain  attitude,,  of  endless 
duration  j  both  which  circumstances,  I  suppose,  may  have  been  in  view. 
Having  gained  this  intelligence,  and  recollecting  that  countries  are  some- 
times represented  by  animals  peculiar  to  them,  it  occurred  to  me  that  the 
rattlesnake  is  found  in  no  other  quarter  of  the  globe  than  America,  and 
it  may  therefore  have  been  chosen  on  that  account  to  represent  her.  But 
then  the  worthy  properties  of  a  snake,  I  judged,  would  be  hard  to  point 
out.  This  rather  raised  than  suppressed  my  curiosity,  and  having 
frequently  seen  the  rattlesnake,  I  ran  over  in  my  mind  every  property  for 
which  she  was  distinguished,  not  only  from  other  animals,  but  from  those 
of  the  same  genus  or  class,  endeavoring  to  fix  some  meaning  to  each  not 
wholly  inconsistent  with  common  sense.  I  recollected  that  her  eye  ex- 
ceeded in  brightness  that  of  any  other  animal,  and  that  she  had  no  eye- 
lids. She  may  therefore  be  esteemed  an  emblem  of  vigilance.  She  never 
begins  an  attack,  nor,  when  once  engaged,  ever  surrenders.  She  is  there- 
fore an  emblem  of  magnanimity  and  true  courage.  As  if  anxious  to  pre- 
vent all  pretensions  of  quarreling  with  the  weapons  which  nature  favored 
her,  she  conceals  them  in  the  roof  of  her  mouth,  so  that,  to  those  who 
are  unacquainted  with  her,  she  appears  most  defenceless  ;  and,  even  when 
those  weapons  are  shown  and  extended  for  defence,  they  appear  weak 
and  contemptible  ;  but  their  wounds,  however  small,  are  decisive  and 
fatal.  Conscious  of  this,  she  never  wounds  until  she  has  generously  given 
notice  even  to  her  enemy,  and  cautioned  him  against  the  danger  of  tread- 
ing on  her.  Was  I  wrong,  sirs,  in  thinking  this  a  strong  picture  of  the 
temper  and  conduct  of  America  ? 

"  '  The  poison  of  her  teeth  is  the  necessary  means  of  digesting  her  food, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  is  the  certain  destruction  of  her  enemies.  This 
may  be  nderstood  to  intimate  that  those  things  which  are  destructive  to 
our  enemies  may  be  to  us  not  only  harmless,  but  absolutely  necessary  to 
our  existence.  I  confess  I  was  totally  at  a  loss  what  to  make  of  the  rat- 
tles until  I  went  back  and  counted  them,  and  found  them  just  thirteen  — 
exactly  the  number  of  colonies  united  in  America  ;  and  I  recollected,  too, 
that  this  was  the  only  part  of  the  snake  which  increased  in  numbers. 
Perhaps  it  may  have  only  been  my  fancy,  but  I  conceited  the  painter  had 
shown  a  half-formed  additional  rattle,  which  I  suppose  may  have  been 


150  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

intended  to  represent  the  province  of  Canada.  'Tis  curious  and  amazing 
to  observe  how  distinct  and  independent  of  each  other  the  rattles  of  this 
animal  are,  and  yet  how  firmly  they  are  united  together  so  as  to  be  never 
separated  except  by  breaking  them  to  pieces.  One  of  these  rattles,  singly, 
is  incapable  of  producing  sound  ;  but  the  ringing  of  thirteen  together  is 
sufficient  to  alarm  the  boldest  man  living.  The  rattlesnake  is  solitary, 
and  associates  with  her  kind  only  when  it  is  necessary  for  her  preserva- 
tion. In  winter  the  warmth  of  a  number  together  will  preserve  their 
lives,  whilst  singly  they  would  probably  perish.  The  power  of  fascina- 
tion attributed  to  her  by  a  generous  construction  may  be  understood  to 
mean  that  those  who  consider  the  liberty  and  blessings  which  America 
affords,  and  once  come  over  to  her,  never  afterwards  leave  her,  but  spend 
their  lives  with  her.  She  strongly  resembles  America  in  this;  that  she 
is  beautiful  in  youth,  and  her  beauty  increases  with  age  ;  her  tongue  also  is 
blue  and  forked  as  lightning,  and  her  abode  is  among  impenetrable  rocks. 
' '  Having  pleased  myself  with  reflections  of  this  kind,  I  communicated 
my  sentiments  to  a  neighbor  of  mine  who  has  a  surprising  readiness  at 
guessing  anything  which  relates  to  public  affairs  ;  and,  indeed,  I  should 
be  jealous  of  his  reputation  in  that  way,  were  it  not  that  the  event  con- 
stantly shows  that  he  has  guessed  wrong.  He  instantly  declared  it  his 
sentiment  that  congress  meant  to  allude  to  Lord  North's  declaration  in 
the  house  of  commons  that  he  never  would  relax  his  measures  until  he 
had  brought  America  to  his  feet,  and  to  intimate  to  his  lordship  that  if 
she  was  brought  to  his  feet  it  would  be  dangerous  treading  on  her.  But 
I  am  positive  he  has  guessed  wrong,  for  I  am  sure  congress  would  not, 
at  this  time  of  day,  condescend  to  take  the  least  notice  of  his  lordship  in 
that  or  any  other  way.  In  which  opinion  I  am  determined  to  remain 
your  humble  servant.  ' 

Col.  Gadsden,  who  was  one  of  the  marine  committee,  pre- 
sented to  congress  on  the  8th  of  Feb.,  1776,  "an  elegant  stand- 
ard, such  as  is  to  be  used  by  the  commander  in  chief  of  the 
American  navy  ;  being  a  yellow  flag  with  a  lively  representation 
of  a  rattlesnake  in  the  middle  in  the  attitude  of  going  to  strike, 
and  these  words  underneath,  '  Don't  tread  on  me.'  Congress 
ordered  that  the  said  standard  be  carefully  preserved  and  sus- 
pended in  the  congress  room." 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  the  further  history  of  this  flag. 

We  have  shown  that  the  first  legislation  of  congress  on 
the  subject  of  a  federal  navy  was  in  Oct.,  1775,  and  that  after 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  151 

that  national  cruisers  were  equipped  and  sent  to  sea  on  a  three 
months'  cruise  ;  but  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  without  any  provi- 
sion for  a  national  ensign,  and  probably  wearing  the  colors  of  the 
state  they  sailed  from.  Before  the  close  of  the  year,  congress  as 
we  have  seen  had  authorized  a  regular  navy  of  seventeen  vessels 
varying  in  force  from  ten  to  thirty-two  guns,  had  established  a 
general  prize  law  in  consequence  of  the  burning  of  Falmouth  by 
Mowatt,  had  regulated  the  relative  rank  of  military  and  naval 
officers,  and  had  established  the  pay  of  the  navy  and  appointed 
Dec.  22,  1775,  Esek  Hopkins,  commander  in  chief  of  the  naval 
forces  of  the  embryo  republic,  fixing  his  pay  at  125  dollars  a 
month.  At  the  same  time  captains  were  commissioned  to  the 
Alfred,  Columbus,  Andrea  Doria,  Cabot  and  Providence,1  and 
first,  second  and  third  lieutenants  were  appointed  to  each  of  those 
vessels.  The  Alfred  was  a  stout  merchant  ship  originally 
called  the  Black  Piince,  and  commanded  by  J.  Barry.  She 
arrived  at  Philadelphia  on  the  I3th  of  Oct.,  and  was  purchased 
and  armed  by  the  committee.  The  Columbus,  originally  the 
Sally,  was  first  purchased  by  the  committee  of  safety  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  ten  days  after  sold  to  the  naval  committees  of 
congress.  The  merchant  names  of  the  other  ships  I  have  been 
unable  to  ascertain.  Notwithstanding  the  equipping  of  this 
fleet,  the  necessity  of  a  common  national  flag  seems  not  to  have 
been  thought  of,  until  Doctor  Franklin,  Mr.  Lynch,  and  Mr. 
Harrison  were  appointed  to  consider  the  subject  and  assembled 
at  the  camp  at  Cambridge.  The  result  of  their  conference  was 
the  retention  of  the  king's  colors  or  union  jack  representing  the 
yet  recognized  sovereignty  of  England,  but  coupled  to  thirteen 
stripes  alternate  red  and  white  emblematic  of  the  union  of  the 
thirteen  colonies  against  its  tyranny  and  oppression,  in  place  of 
the  hitherto  loyal  red  ensign. 

1  John  Adams,  who  was  a  member  of  the  marine  committee  of  congress,  gives  the 
following  reasons  for  the  choice  of  these  names  : 

"  This  committee  soon  purchased  and  fitted  five  vessels.  The  first  was  named 
Alfred,  in  honor  of  the  founder  of  the  greatest  navy  that  ever  existed.  The  second, 
Columbus,  after  the  discoverer  of  this  quarter  of  the  globe.  The  third,  Cabot,  for 
the  discoverer  of  the  northern  part  of  this  continent.  The  fourth,  Andrew  Doria,  in 
honor  of  the  great  Genoese  admiral ;  and  the  fifth,  Providence,  for  the  name  of  the 
town  where  she  was  purchased,  the  residence  of  Governor  Hopkins  and  his  brother 
Esek,  whom  we  appointed  the  first  captain." 


152  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  new  striped  flag  was  hoisted  for  the  first  time  on  the  ist 
or  2d  of  January,  1776,  over  the  camp  at  Cambridge.  Gen. 
Washington,  writing  to  Joseph  Reed  on  the  4th  of  January,  says  : 
"  We  are  at  length  favored  with  the  sight  of  his  majesty's  most 
gracious  speech  breathing  sentiments  of  tenderness  and  com- 
passion for  his  deluded  American  subjects  ;  the  speech  I  send 
you  (a  volume  of  them  was  sent  out  by  the  Boston  gentry),  and 
farcical  enough  we  gave  great  joy  to  them  without  knowing  or 
intending  it,  for  on  that  day  (the  2d)  which  gave  being  to  our 
new  army ;  but  before  the  proclamation  came  to  hand  we  hoisted 
the  union  flag  in  compliment  to  the  United  Colonies.  But  be- 
hold it  was  received  at  Boston  as  a  token  of  the  deep  impression 
the  speech  had  made  upon  us,  and  as  a  signal  of  submission. 

By  this  time  I  presume  they  begin  to  think  it  strange  that  we 
have  not  made  a  formal  surrender  of  our  lines." 

An  anonymous  letter,  written  under  date  Jan.  2,  1776,  says  : 
"  The  grand  union  flag  of  thirteen  stripes  was  raised  on  a  height 
near  Boston.  The  regulars  did  not  understand  it,  and  as  the 
king's  speech  had  just  been  read  as  they  supposed,  they  thought 
the  new  flag  was  a  token  of  submission." 

The  captain  of  a  British  transport  writing  from  Boston  to  his 
owners  in  London,  Jan.  17,  1776,  says,  "I  can  see  the  rebels' 
camp  very  plain,  whose  colors,  a  little  while  ago  were  entirely 
red ;  but  on  the  receipt  of  the  king's  speech,  which  they  burnt, 
they  hoisted  the  union  flag,  which  is  here  supposed  to  intimate 
the  union  of  the  provinces." 

The  British  Annual  Register  says,  "  They  burnt  the  king's 
speech,  and  changed  their  colors  from  a  plain  red  ground,  which 
they  had  hitherto  used,  to  a  flag  with  thirteen  stripes  as  a  symbol 
of  the  union  and  number  of  the  colonies. 

A  letter  from  Boston  in  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  says : 
"  the  grand  union  flag  was  raised  on  the  2d,  in  compliment  to 
the  United  Colonies,"  a  British  lieutenant  writing  from  Charleston 
Heights,  Jan.  25,  1776,  mentions  the  same  fact  and  adds  "  It 
was  saluted  with  thirteen  guns  and  thirteen  cheers." 

Botta,  in  his  History  of  the  American  Revolution,  derived  from 
contemporary  documents,  writes  thus:  "The  hostile  speech 
of  the  king  at  the  meeting  of  parliament  had  arrived  in  America, 


PL.  VII 


THE    GRAND      UNION      FLAG".  1776. 


FAC    SIMILE     Of       THE 


FLAG  OFTHE  SCHOONER  ROYAL  SAVAGE. 

DRAWN    IK/     JULY        T776\ 

^  .F.1CM     •*-//£      ORIGINAL    FOUND    BY   B.  J.    L0SJ/M6 

.  •  ,         IN     rwr 

PAPfK?. 


BUFFO RD'S   LITH.  BOSTON. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  153 

and  copies  of  it  were  circulated  in  the  camp.  It  was  announced 
there  also  that  the  first  petition  of  congress  had  been  rejected. 
The  whole  army  manifested  the  utmost  indignation  at  this  in- 
telligence, the  royal  speech  was  burnt  in  public  by  the  infuriated 
soldiers.  They  changed  at  this  time,  the  red  ground  of  their 
banners,  and  striped  them  with  thirteen  lists,  as  an  emblem  of  their 
number,  and  the  union  of  the  colonies." 

We  have  here  contemporary  evidence  enough  as  to  the  time 
and  place  when  "  the  grand  union  striped  flag,"  was  first  un- 
furled, but  it  will  be  observed  there  is  nowhere  mention  of  the 
color  of  the  stripes  that  were  placed  on  the  previously  red  flag, 
or  the  character  of  its  union,  or  other  than  presumptive  evidence 
that  it  had  a  union. 

Bancroft,  in  his  recent  History  of  the  United  States,  describes 
this  flag  as  "  the  tricolored  American  banner,  not  yet  spangled 
with  stars,  but  showing  thirteen  stripes  alternate  red  and  white 
in  the  field,  and  the  united  crosses  of  St.  George  and  St.  Andrew, 
on  a  blue  ground  in  the  corner  ;"  but  he  fails  to  furnish  his  au- 
thority for  this  statement.  Fortunately  we  are  able  to  furnish 
corroborative  evidence  of  his  being  correct.  Since  the  publica- 
tion of  Bancroft's  History,  Mr.  Benson  J.  Lossing,  the  eminent 
American  historian,  has  found  among  the  papers  of  Major  Gen. 
Philip  Schuyler,  and  has  in  his  possession,  a  water-color  sketch 
of  the  Royal  Savage,  one  of  the  little  fleet  on  Lake  Champlain, 
in  the  summer  and  winter  of  1776,  commanded  by  Benedict 
Arnold.  This  drawing  is  known  to  be  the  Royal  Savage  from 
its  being  endorsed  in  the  hand  writing  of  General  Schuyler  as 
Captain  Wynkoop's  schooner,  and  Captain  or  rather  Colonel 
Wynkoop  is  known  to  have  commanded  her  at  that  time. 
There  is  no  date  on  the  drawing,  but  nevertheless  it  may  be  con- 
sidered as  settling  what  were  all  the  characteristic  features  of  the 
new  flag.  At  the  head  of  the  main  topmast  of  the  schooner,  there 
is  a  flag  precisely  like  the  one  described  by  Bancroft,  and  it  is  the 
only  known  contemporaneous  drawing  of  it  extant.  Through 
the  kindness  of  Mr.  Lossing  I  am  able  to  give  a  facsimile  in  size, 
form  and  color  from  the  original  of  this  interesting  drawing.1 
(Plate  VII). 

1  Mr.  Lossing  informs  me  in  his  forthcoming  life  of  Schuyler,  he  intends  repro- 
ducing a  fac  simile  drawing  of  the  whole  schooner. 

20 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

In  Gen.  Arnold's  sailing  orders  for  the  fleet,  he  prescribes 
the  ensign  at  the  main  topmast  head  as  the  signal  for  speaking 
with  the  whole  fleet.  The  same  at  the  fore  for  chasing  a  sail. 

The  old  red  union  ensign  had  been  familiarly  known  for 
nearly  seventy  years,  and  nothing  could  be  more  natural,  or 
likely  to  suggest  itself  to  a  people  not  yet  prepared  to  sever  en- 
tirely their  connection  with  the  parent  government,  than  to 
utilize  the  old  flag  and  distinguish  in  this  simple  manner,  this 
emblem  of  the  new  union,  from  the  old,  rather  than  seek  further 
for  new  devices. 

The  flag  adopted  closely  resembled,  if  it  was  not  exactly  like 
the  flag  of  the  English  East  India  Company  then  in  use,  and 
which  continued  to  be  the  flag  of  that  company  with  but  trifling 
variation,  until  its  sovereign  sway  and  empire  in  the  east,  exer- 
cised for  over  two  hundred  years,  was  in  1834  merged  in  that 
of  Great  Britain.1 


1  THE  EAST  INDIA  COMPANY'S  ENSIGNS.  This  com  pany,  whose  first  charter  was  granted 
Dec.  31,  1600,  by  Queen  Elizabeth  to  "  George,  Earl  of  Cumberland,  and  215  knights, 
aldermen  and  merchants,  that  at  their  own  costs  and  charges  might  set  forth  one  or  more 
voyages  to  the  East  Indias,"  &c.,  bore  as  a  crest  to  their  armorial  ensigns,  a  sphere 
without  a  frame  bound  with  a  zodiac  in  bend  or,  between  two  split  florant  argents, 
each  charged  with  a  cross  gules  ;  on  the  sphere  the  words  Deus  indicet  •  on  the 
shield  with  other  devices  were  three  ships  rigged  under  full  sail,  pennants  and  en- 
sign being  argent,  and  each  charged  with  the  same  cross  gules.  The  pennants  were 
long  tapering  and  split  at  the  end  while  the  ensigns  were  perfectly  square. 

That  the  East  India  Company  were  entitled  to  bear  on  their  ships  any  particular 
distinguishing  flag  in  the  early  years  of  its  history  does  not  seem  probable  since  we 
read  that  a  royal  proclamation  of  James  I,  was  issued  April  12,  1606,  ordering  all 
subjects  of  the  isle  and  kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  and  the  members  thereof  to  bear  in 
their  maintop  the  union  flag,  being  the  red  cross  of  St.  George  and  the  white  cross 
(saltiere)  of  St.  Andrew,  joined  upon  a  blue  ground  according  to  a  form  made  by  our 
heralds,  and  sent  by  us  to  our  admiral  to  be  published  to  our  said  subjects." 

At  what  time  the  striped  flag  was  adopted  by  the  East  India  Company  is  not  evi- 
dent. A  contemporary  print  preserved  in  the  British  Museum  representing  the 
Puritans  in  1644,  under  Sir  Robert  Harlow  or  Harley, 
destroying  the  cross  in  Cheapside,  depicts  several  flags, 
one  of  which  bears  two  red  stripes  on  a  white  field,  and 
the  St.  George's  cross  on  a  white  canton  which  extends 
over  the  first  two  stripes. 

In  1 68 1,  the  renewal  of  the  charter  of  the  company  by 
Charles  II,  vested  in  it  the  power  and  authority  to  make 
peace  or  war  with  any  nation  not  being  Christians,  and 
six  years  later  it  was  ordered  the  king's  union  flag  should 
be  always  used  at  the  Fort  St.  George. 
Flag  destroyed  at  jn  1698,  a  new  company  was  established  by  act  of  par- 

Cheapside,  1644.          liament,  which  soon  however  became   incorporated  with 
the  former.     Its  arms  were   argent   a  cross  gules  in  the 
dexter  chief  quarter,  an  escutcheon  of  the  arms    of  France  and    England    quarterly, 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES. 


155 


THE  GRAND  UNION  OR  CONTINENTAL  FLAG  OF  THE 
UNITED  COLONIES. 

1776-1777. 

It  has  been  conjectured  the  idea  of  the  stripes  as  a  symbol  of 
union  may  have  been  derived  from  the  flag  of  the  Netherlands, 
adopted  for  the  national  ensign  as  early* as  1582,  and  which 
then  as  now  consisted  of  three  equal  horizontal  stripes  symbolic 
of  the  rise  of  the  Dutch  republic  from  the  union  at  Utrecht.1 

The  stripes  of  this  flag  at  first  were  orange,  white  and  blue, 
the  orange  in  chief.  In  1650,  after  the  death  of  William  II,  a 
red  stripe  was  substituted  for  the  orange,  and  the  flag  so  remains 

crest,  two  lions  rampant,  gardant  or,  each  supporting  a  banner  crest  argent,  charged 
with  a  cross  gules. 

The  Present  State  of  the  Universe,  4th  edition,  London,  1704,  by  J.  Beaumont,  Jr., 
gives  as  the  East  India  Company's  ensign,  a  flag  with  thirteen  horizontal  stripes, 
alternate  red  and  white,  with  a  St.  George's  cross  on  a  white  canton  which  rests  upon 
the  fourth  red  stripe. 


East  India  Company, 
1834. 


East  India  Company's 
Ensign,  1704. 


In  the  Dominion  and  La-ws  of  the  Sea  published  in  London  in  1705,  the  East 
India  Company's  flag  is  pictured  with  but  ten  stripes. 

In  a  Dutch  work  on  ship  building  by  Carl  Allard  published  in  Amsterdam  the 
same  year,  the  East  India  Company's  flag  has  but  nine  stripes. 

1  A  correspondent  of  London  Notes  and  Queries,  vol.  xn,  ad  series,  1861,  writes  : 
He  has  a  French  work  on  flags  published  1737,  which  describes 

ist.  Pavilion  de  Nouvelle  Angleterre  in  Amerique^  as  azure  on  a  canton  argent, 
the  red  cross  of  St.  George  having  a  globe  in  the  first  quarter  [see  ante.] 

zd.  A  DUTCH  FLAG  "  Deucbese  en  Norte  Hollandc,"  which  has  thirteen  stripes,  fellow 
and  red. 

3d.  "  Pavilion  de  Rangon  de  Division  d'escadre  "  [English]  has  thirteen  stripes, 
red  and  "white  with  St.  George's  cross  in  a  canton  argent. 

4th.  The  East  India  Co.'s  flag  has  nine  stripes  red  and  white  with  the  canton 
and  cross  like  number  3. 

On  the  left  hand  corner  of  the  membership  certificate  of  the  society  of  the  Cincin- 


156  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

without  other  change  to  this  day.  Hudson,  the  first  to  display  a 
European  flag  on  the  waters  of  New  York  and  explorer  of  the 
river  that  bears  his  name,  sailed  up  the  river  in  1609,  under  the 
Dutch  East  India  flag,  which  was  the  same  as  above  described, 

with  the  addition  of  the  letters  A.  O. 
C.  Algemeene  Oost  Indlse  Compagnie,  in 
the  centre  of  the  white  stripe.  This 
was  the  flag  of  the  colony  of  Manhattan 
established  under  the  auspices  of  the 
DutchEastlndiaCompany,  until  1622. 
When  the  government  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Com- 
pany the  letters  G.  W.  C.  (Geoctroyeerde 
West-Indische  Compagnie),  were  put 

Dutch  East  India  Flag.          .       ,  ,  .  .        .        ,  r     u      i 

in  the  white  stripe  in  place  or  the  let- 
ters A.  O.  C.  This  was  the  dominant  flag  (with  the  change 
of  the  orange  stripe  for  a  red  one  in  1650),  until  1664,  when 
the  island  was  surrendered  to  the  English,  and  the  union  jack  of 
England  supplanted  the  tri-color  of  Holland,  and  the  name  of 
New  Amsterdam  was  changed  to  New  York.1 

"From  Holland,"  argues  a  writer  on  the  subject,  "  came  the 
emigrants  who  first  planted  the  seeds  of  civil  and  religious  liberty 
and  popular  education  in  the  empire  state,  and  from  Holland 
more  than  any  other  land  came  the  ideas  of  a  federal  union,2 
which  binds  together  the  American  states.  From  Holland  whither 
persecution  had  driven  them,  also  embarked  the  Pilgrim  fathers 

nati,  issued  in  1785,  there  is  represented  a  strong  armed  man,  bearing  in  one  hand  a 
union  flag,  and  in  the  other  a  naked  sword.  Beneath  his  feet  are  British  flags,  a  broken 
spear,  shield  and  chain.  Hovering  by  his  side  is  the  eagle,  our  national  emblem  from 
whose  talons  the  lightning  of  destruction  is  flashing  upon  the  British  lion,  and  Bri- 
tannia with  the  crown  falling  from  her  head  is  hastening  to  make  her  escape  in  a  boat 
to  the  fleet. 

The  union  flag  of  this  certificate  is  composed  of  thirteen  alternate  red  and  "white 
stripes  and  a  ivAite  union  in  which  is  painted  the  present  arms  of  the  United  States 
adopted  three  years  previous,  in  1782.  A  flag  of  this  kind  may  have  been  in  use  in 
the  army  earlier. 

1  Valentine's  Manual  Common  Council,  N.  7".,  1863.      In  the  month  of  July,  1673, 
the  Dutch  again  took  possession  of  the  city,  which   they   occupied  until  Nov.   10,  • 
1674,  when  by  virtue   of  a   treaty   of  peace  between    England   and   Holland,    the 
English  color,  the  cross  of  St.  George,  was  rehoisted  over  the  city. 

2  The  united  provinces  of  the  Netherlands  on  their  independence  devised  for  their 
standard  the  appropriate  device  of  the  national  lion  of  Flanders  [rampant  gu],  borne 
by  the  counts  from  the  nth  century,  grasping  in  his  paws  a  sheaf  of  seven  arrows 
or,   to  denote  the  seven  provinces,   and  a  naked  sword.     The  shield  of  the  arms, 
was  azure  billetee,  and  the  whole  achievement  was  charged  upon  the  white  of  the  flag. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  157 

to  land  upon  our  winter-swept  and  storm  and  rock-bound  coast. 
The  rights  for  which  Holland  so  long  struggled,  so  ably  por- 
trayed by  our  Motley  in  his  History  of  the  Rise  of  the  Dutch  Re- 
public^ are  identical  with  those  which  the  old  thirteen  colonies  so 
successfully  maintained.  What  more  likely  then,"  continues 
this  reasoner,  "  that  in  adopting  a  device  for  a  union  flag  our 
fathers  should  derive  the  idea  from  a  country  to  whose  example 
they  were  already  so  much  indebted." 

A  more  common  place  origin  for  the  stripes  has  been  suggested 
by  a  recent  writer.  The  continental  army  of  1775  was  without 
uniforms,  and  the  different  grades  were  distinguished  by  means 
of  a  stripe  or  ribbon.  The  writer  thinks  that  the  daily  view  of 
these,  the  only  distinguishing  marks  of  rank,  would  naturally 
suggest  the  same  device  for  representing  the  United  Colonies.1 

Without  wandering  far  seeking  for  the  origin  of  the  stripes 
upon  our  flag,  it  may  have  been  that  the  stripes  on  his  own  escutch- 
eon suggested  them  to  the  mind  of  Washington.  They  seem 
also  to  have  been  one  of  the  devices  on  the  flag  of  the  Phila- 
delphia troop  of  light  horse,  which  accompanied  Washington 
from  Philadelphia  to  New  York,  when  proceeding  to  assume 
command  of  the  army  at  Cambridge,  where  they  were  first 
shown ;  and,  it  is  possible,  these  stripes,  or  lists  as  they  were 
sometimes  called,  were  adopted  as  an  easy  expedient  for  convert- 
ing the  ensigns  of  the  mother  country  by  an  economical  method 
into  a  new  flag,  representing  the  union  of  the  American  colonies 
against  the  ministerial  oppression,  when  they  were  not  yet  quite 


1  Sarmiento's  History  of  our  Flag,  1864.  The  orders  to  which  he  refers  are  to  be 
found  in  American  Archives,  4th  Series,  vol.  n,  p.  1738,  viz  : 

Head  Quarters,  Cambridge, 

July  23,  1775. 

Parole,  Brunswick.      Countersign,  Princeton. 

As  the  continental  army  have,  unfortunately,  no  uniforms,  and  consequently  many 
inconveniences  must  arise  from  not  being  able  always  to  distinguish  the  commissioned 
officers  from  the  non-commissioned  and  the  non-commissioned  from  the  privates,  it 
is  desired  that  some  badges  of  distinction  may  be  immediately  provided  ;  for  instance, 
the  field  officers  may  have  red  or  pink  cockades  in  their  hats,  the  captains  yellow  or 
buff  and  the  subalterons  green.  They  are  to  furnish  themselves  accordingly.  The 
sergeants  may  be  distinguished  by  an  epaulette  or  stripe  of  red  cloth  sewed  upon  the 
right  shoulder ;  the  corporals  by  one  of  green." 

Head  Quarters,  Cambridge, 

July  24,  1775. 

Parole,  Salisbury.      Countersign,  Cumberland. 

It  being  thought  proper  to  distinguish  the  majors  from  brigadiers  general  by  some 
particular  mark,  for  the  future  major  generals  will  wear  a  broad  purple  ribbon. 


158  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

ready  to  give  up  their  loyalty  to  the  king's  colors  which  the  new 
ensign  retained. 

It  required  the  after  addition  of  the  "new  constellation"  to 
render  them  significant,  and  to  give  a  poetic  life  and  character 
to  the  flag. 

When  the  Virginia  convention  at  Williamsburg  instructed 
its  delegates  in  congress,  May  15,  1776,  three  weeks  before  the 
declaration  of  independence, "  to  declare  the  United  Colonies  free 
and  independent  states  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  dependence 
upon  the  crown  and  parliament  of  England,  and  to  propose  a 
confederation  of  the  colonies,"  there  was  a  great  civil  and  military 
parade,  when,  according  to  an  eye  witness,  "  the  union  flag  of  the 
American  states,"  waved  upon  the  Capitol  during  the  whole 
ceremony.1  This  could  have  been  no  other  than  the  flag  in- 
augurated by  Washington  at  his  camp  at  Cambridge  in  January. 

July,  1776,  a  committee  consisting  of  Generals  Sullivan  and 
Greene,  and  Lord  Stirling  was  appointed  to  devise  a  system  of 
signals  to  be  hoisted  on  the  Highlands  of  Neversink,  to  give  the 
earliest  intelligence  of  the  enemy's  approach.  They  proposed, 
that  for  any  number  of  ships  from  I  to  6,  and  from  6  to  22,  and 
for  any  greater  number  three  large  ensigns  with  broad  stripes  of 
red  and  white  should  be  hoisted.2 

Col.  Rud.  Ritzema,  addressing  some  members  of  the  New 
York  congress  under  date  New  York,  May  31,  1776,  says  that 
the  day  before,  it  was  given  out  in  general  orders,  that  Gen.  Put- 
nam had  received  a  letter  from  General  Washington  requesting  all 
the  colonels  at  New  York  to  immediately  provide  colors  for 
their  several  regiments,  and  he  asks  that  Mr.  Curtinius  may 
have  directions  to  provide  a  pair  for  his  regiment  of  such  a  color 
and  with  such  devices  as  shall  be  deemed  proper  by  the  con- 
gress p.*.,  New  York  Prov.  congress.]3 

1  Niles^s  American  Re-volution,  pp.  251,  232.  The  toasts  at  the  soldiers'  banquet 
were:  ist,  the  American  independent  states  5  2d,  the  grand  congress  of  the  United 
States,  and  their  respective  legislatures  ;  3d,  General  Washington  and  victory  to  the 
American  arms.  These  toasts  were  accompanied  by  salutes  of  artillery  andy>«  de 
joy  of  small  arms. 

3  Life  of  Gen.  Nathaniel  Greene,  vol.  I . 

3  American  Archives,  4th  series,  vol.  vi,  page  634,  and  on  page  637  is  given  the 
order  he  refers  to,  viz  : 

"After  Orders,  May  31,  1776. 

"  General  Washington  has  written  to  General  Putnam  desiring  him  in  the  most 
pressing  terms,  to  give  positive  orders  to  all  the  colonels  to  have  colors  immediately 
completed  for  their  respective  regiments." 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  159 

It  has  been  shown  that  the  first  legislation  of  the  continental  con- 
gress on  the  subject  of  a  federal  navy  was  on  the  i8th  of  Oct., 
1775,  and  that  national  cruisers  were  about  that  time  equipped 
and  sent  to  sea  on  a  three  months'  cruise  under  the  pine  tree 
flag,  but  without  any  provision  for  a  national  ensign.  Before  the 
close  of  the  year  and  before  the  grand  union  flag  raising  at 
Cambridge,  a  regular  navy  of  seventeen  vessels  varying  in  force 
from  ten  to  thirty-two  guns,  was  ordered,  a  general  prize  law 
established,  the  relative  rank  of  military  and  naval  officers  regu- 
lated, and  Esek  Hopkins,  Esq.,  appointed  commander  in  chief 
of  the  naval  forces  of  the  embryo  republic.  At  the  same  time  J 
captains  were  commissioned  for  the  purchased  vessels,  Alfred, 
Columbus,2  Andrea  Doria,  Cabot  and  Providence,  and  first, 
second  and  third  lieutenants  appointed  to  each  of  those  vessels. 
Under  the  same  law,  the  pay  of  the  commander  in  chief  of  the 
fleet  was  fixed  at  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  a  month. 
Such  was  the  humble  beginning  of  a  national  naval  organization. 
Cruisers  armed  and  equipped  by,  and  holding  commissions  from 
the  several  colonies  had  been  fitted  and  continued  to  be  sent 
our  for  some  time  after  under  their  colonial  or  state  flags,  and 
probably  continued  to  fly  them  until  the  close  of  the  war.3 

Senior  of  the  five  first  lieutenants  of  the  new  continental  navy, 
stood  John  Paul  Jones  (as  he  chose  to  be  called)  who  was  com- 
missioned to  the  Alfred,  then  in  the  Delaware,  designed  to  be 
the  flag  ship  of  the  commander-in-chief  Esek  Hopkins,  and  of 
which  Dudley  Saltonstall,  Esq.,  was  the  captain. 

1Dec.  22,  1775. 

8  The  Columbus  was  a  merchant  ship,  originally  named  the  Sally. —  Wcstcott't 
History  of  Philadelphia. 

3  Throughout  Oct.,  1776,  the  navy  board  of  South  Carolina  made  various  provi- 
sions for  a  state  navy,  and  commissioned  officers  for  it  and  vessels. —  Am.  Archives, 
pp.  1323-29,  vol.  n,  5th  series. 

June  29,  1776,  an  ordinance  passed  the  Virginia  convention  establishing  a  board 
of  commissioners  to  superintend  and  direct  the  naval  affairs  of  that  colony. —  Am. 
Archives,  vol.  vi,  p.  1598. 

April,  1776,  the  Massachusetts  council  passed  a  series  of  resolutions  providing  for 
the  regulation  of  the  sea  service,  among  them  was  the  following  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  uniform  of  the  officers  be  green  and  white,  and  that  they 
furnish  themselves  accordingly  and  that  the  colors  be  a  white  flag  with  a  green  pine 
tree  and  the  inscription  'An  appeal  to  Heaven.'  " 

The  floating  batteries  of  Pennsylvania,  in  the  Delaware,  carried  the  same  flag  in 
the  autumn  of  1775.  According  to  the  English  newspapers,  privateers  throughout 
the  year  1776,  wearing  a  flag  of  this  description  were  captured  and  carried  into  British 
ports.  The  Yankee  Hero  was  captured  under  these  colors  in  June.  Commodore 


160  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Paul  Jones  has  recorded  that  the  FLAG  OF  AMERICA  was 
hoisted  by  him,  "  by  hisjiwn  band^J-  on  board  the  Alfred,2  and 
adds,  "  being  the  first  time  it  was  ever  displayed  by  a  regular  man- 
of-war."  From  this  we  infer  it  is  possible  it  may  have  been  pre- 
viously displayed  by  some  of  the  state  cruisers.  Jones's  com- 
mission is  dated  the  yth  of  December,  but  as  the  flag  is  said  to 
have  been  hoisted  for  the  first  time  when  the  commander-in-chief 


Tucker  has  related  that  he  hoisted  them  on  the  Franklin  (one  of  the  two  schooners 
equipped  by  Washington)  in  Jan.,  1776,  and  captured  the  ship  George  and  brig 
Arabella. 

Dec.  21,  1775.  The  province  of  North  Carolina  authorized  three  armed  vessels 
to  be  fitted  out  with  all  dispatch  for  the  protection  of  the  trade  of  that  province. 

Nov.  u,  1775.  The  South  Carolina  colony  schooner  Defence  proceeding  to 
sink  some  hulks  in  Hog  island  creek,  Charleston  harbor,  was  fired  at  by  the  king's 
ships  Tamar  of  sixteen,  and  Cherokee  of  six  guns.  Fort  Johnson  discharged  some  26 
pounders  at  the  king's  ships. 

Nov.  14,  1775.  Clement  Lempriere  was  appointed  captain  of  the  ship  Prosper, 
fitting  and  arming  for  South  Carolina,  and  other  officers  were  appointed  to  her. 

Dec.  2.0,  1775.  A  committee  was  appointed  by  the  New  York  Provincial  Con- 
gress to  purchase  and  equip  a  proper  vessel  for  the  defence  of  the  East  river  her  cost 
not  to  exceed  £600. 

Jan.  22,  1776.  The  committee  of  safety  of  the  provincial  congress  of  New 
York,  write  to  the  delegates  from  New  York  to  the  continental  congress,  that  they  are 
informed  by  one  of  those  delegates  that  the  continental  congress  will  take  into  the 
continental  service  the  sloop  Sally  purchased  Dec.  20,  by  Col.  McDougall  for  the 
defence  of  the  colony  for  £325  and  request,  "Should  it  so  be  determined  her  flag 
should  be  described  to  them,"  showing  that  at  that  time  the  New  York  committee 
of  safety  were  not  informed  what  the  continental  flag  was. —  Am.  Archives,  vol.  iv, 
4th  series. 

June  29,  1776.  An  ordinance  passed  the  Virginia  convention  establishing  a 
board  of  commissioners  to  superintend  and  direct  the  naval  affairs  of  that  colony,  the 
ordinance  is  published  in  full  in  Am.  Archives,  vol.  vi,  4th  series. 

Philadelphia,  June  6,  1776.  Two  privateers  belonging  to  this  port  have  taken 
three  very  valuable  ships  bound  from  Jamaica  to  London,  laden  with  rum,  sugar,  mo- 
lasses, etc.,  having  also  a  large  quantity  of  dollars  and  plate  on  board.  We  hear  that  on 
board  of  the  above  ships,  there  were  several  very  fine  sea  turtles  intended  as  a  present 
to  Lord  North,  one  of  which  with  his  lordship's  name  nicely  cut  in  the  shell,  was 
yesterday  presented  by  the  captain  to  the  worthy  president  of  the  American  congress. 

STATE  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  BAY  TO  JOHN  CLONSTON,  COMMANDER  OF  THE  SLOOP 
FREEDOM,  in  the  service  of  said  state.  You  are  hereby  directed  and  commanded  to 
repair,  with  the  vessel  under  your  command,  to  the  harbor  of  Boston,  in  company 
with  the  sloop  Republick  commanded  by  John  Foster  Williams,  now  in  Dartmouth, 
and  there  to  await  the  further  orders  of  the  council.  By  order  of  the  major  part  of 
the  council,  the  4th  of  September,  1776.  SAMUEL  ADAMS,  Secretary. 

Returns  of  officers  on  board  the  armed  sloop  called  the  FREEDOM  whereof  JOHN 
CLONSTON  is  commander  :  John  Clonston,  captain,  James  Scott,  first  lieutenant,  Timothy 
Tobey, second  lieutenant.  In  council,  September  4,  1776,  read  and  ordered  that  the 
above  officers  be  commissioned  agreeably  to  their  respective  rank. 

SAMUEL  ADAMS,  Secretary. 

1  Mackenzie's  Life  ofj.  Paul  Jones,  vol.   I,  p.  22.  J.  F.  Cooper's  Life  of  Jones,  y. 
17.     Emmons,  U.   S.  Navy,    1775—1853.       Sands' s  Life  of  Jones,  p.  33,   who  adds 
"  he  does  not  mention  the  date  of  this  transaction  nor  has  the  present  compiler  been 
able  to  fix  it." 

2  All  the  commissions  for  the  Alfred  were  made  out  before  those  for  the  Columbus. — 
Sands*s  Life  of  Jones,  p.  35. 


FLAG  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES. 

embarked  on  the  Alfred,  and  his  commission  was  not  issued 
until  the  22d  of  Dec.,  it  would  seem  probable  that  either  Christ- 
mas or  New  Year's  day  would  be  selected  for  its  display.  The 
latter  would  bring  its  hoisting  to  same  date  as  the  raising  of  the 
union  flag  in  the  lines  of  the  army  at  Cambridge.1 

The  Alfred,  for  which  the  high  honor  of  being  the  first  to  wear 
the  flag  of  A rfi erica,  as  well  as  the  standard  or  flag  of  the  first  naval 
commander-in-chief  is  claimed,  was  originally  a  merchant  vessel 
called  the  Black  Prince.  She  arrived  at  Philadelphia  from  Lon- 
don under  the  command  of  Capt.  Barry,  Oct.  13,*  and  was  pur- 
chased and  armed  by  the  committee.  According  to  our  present 
ideas,  she  was  but  a  small  ship,  though  considered  a  stout  vessel 
of  her  class  at  that  time,  mounting  20  nine-pounders  on  her 
main  deck  and  from  one  to  two  guns  on  her  quarter  deck  and 
forecastle.  When  captured  in  1778,  by  H.  B.  M.  ships,  Ariadne 
and  Ceres,  her  captors  reported  her  as  mounting  twenty  nine- 
pounders  and  having  no  spar  deck  battery.  The  weight  of  shot 
thrown  from  her  entire  battery  or  both  broadsides  was  not  equal 
to  the  weight  of  a  single  solid  shot  thrown  by  one  of  our  modern 

1  Could  the  log-book  of  the  Alfred  referred  to   in  the  following  letter  be   found, 
the  precise  date  when  Jones  hoisted  the  flag  of  America  would  be  known. 
Captain  Jones  to  Colonel   Tilling/last. 

Sloop  Providence,  June  20,  1776. 

SIR  :  I  have  made  so  many  unsuccessful  attempts  to  convey  the  Fly  past  Fisher's 
Island,  that  I  have  determined  to  give  it  up,  and  pursue  my  orders  for  Boston.  When 
I  arrive  there  I  will  transmit  you  my  letter  of  attorney ;  in  the  mean  time  you  will 
singularly  oblige  me  by  applying  to  the  admiral  for  an  order  to  receive  for  me  a  copy 
of  the  Alfred's  log-book,  which  I  had  made  out  for  my  private  use  before  I  left  the 
ship,  and  which  was  unjustly  withheld  from  me  when  I  took  command  of  the  sloop, 
by  the  ill-natured  and  narrow-minded  Captain  Saltonstall.  When  the  old  gentleman 
was  down  here  he  promised  to  order  that  my  copy  should  be  delivered,  but  when  my 
lieutenant  applied  for  it,  the  master  of  the  Alfred  told  the  admiral  a  cursed  lie,  and 
said  there  was  no  copy  made  out.  On  inquiry  you  will  find  that  Mr.  Vaughn,  the 
mate  of  the  Alfred,  made  out  the  copy  in  question  for  me  before  I  went  to  New  Tork. 

I  should  not  be  so  particular,  did  I  not  stand  in  absolute  need  of  it  before  I  can 
make  out  a  fair  copy  of  my  Journal  to  lay  before  the  Congress,  for  I  was  so  stinted  in 
point  of  time  in  the  Alfred,  that  I  did  not  copy  a  single  remark  ;  besides,  it  is  a  little 
hard  that  I,  who  planned  and  superintended  the  log-book,  should  not  be  thought  worthy 
a  copy,  when  a  midshipman,  if  he  pleases,  may  claim  one.  I  cake  it  for  granted  that 
you  will  receive  the  book  ;  I  must  therefore  beg  you  to  send  it,  if  possible,  to  me  at 
Mr.  John  Head's  or  Captain  J.  Bradford's,  Boston.  Regard  not  the  expense,  I  will 
cheerfully  pay  it. 

1  am,  sir,  with  esteem,  your  obliged  and  very  humble  servant. 

J.  PAUL  JONES. 

American  Archives,  4th  series,  vol.  VI,  page  980. 

2  The  Black   Prince,   Campbell,   arrived  at  Falmouth  from  Philadelphia,  Oct.  31, 
1775. —  Boston  Gazette,  Feb.  3,  1776.      Either  this  was  another  ship  of  the  same  name, 
which  is  unlikely,  or  there  is  a  mistake  of  dates. 

21 


162  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

monitors.  Such  has  been  the  changes  in  naval  warfare  within 
a  hundred  years. 

I  have  said  that  it  is  probable  that  Christmas  or  New  Year's  day 
was  selected  for  hoisting  the  flag  of  America,  but  there  is  evidence 
to  prove  that  it,  or  at  least  a  continental  flag,  was  hoisted  over 
the  Alfred  as  early  as  the  3d  of  Dec.,  before  any  of  the  officers  of 
our  infant  navy  had  been  commissioned.  A  letter  addressed  to  the 
Earl  of  Dartmouth  and  dated  Maryland,  Dec.  20,  1775,  says: 
tc  Their  harbors  by  spring  will  swarm  with  privateers :  an  admiral 
is  appointed,  a  court  established,  and  on  the  3d  inst.  [Dec.]  the 
continental  flag  on  board  the  Black  Prince  opposite  Philadelphia 
was  hoisted.1 "  Another  letter  addressed  to  a  friend  in  England 
says  :  "  The  Black  Prince,  a  fine  vessel,  carries  a  flag  and  mounts 
from  20  to  30  twelve  and  sixteen-pounders,  besides  swivels, 
and  fights  mostly  underdeck." 

It  is  not  known  with  certainty  what  flag  Jones  calls  the  flag 
of  America,  though  there  are  several  reasons  for  supposing  it 
the  grand  union  flag  of  thirteen  stripes  displayed  at  Cambridge, 
and  identical  with  the  union  flag  displayed  by  the  Virginia 
convention  the  following  May. 

In  the  day  signals  for  the  fleet  given  to  the  several  captains 
in  the  fleet,  as  sailing  from  the  capes  of  Delaware,  Feb.  17, 
1776,  the  signal  for  the  Providence  to  chase  was,  a  "  St.  George's 
ensign  with  stripes  at  the  mizzen  peak."  For  a  general  attack, 
or  the  whole  fleet  to  engage,  "  the  standard  at  the  maintop  mast- 
head with  the  striped  jack,  and  ensign,  at  their  proper  places." 
The  standard  was  probably  the  rattlesnake  flag  mentioned  else- 
where. The  striped  jack  may  have  been  a  flag  of  thirteen 
stripes  with  a  rattlesnake  undulating  upon  it.2 

A  contemporary  account  says  that  in  the  succeeding  February, 
Admiral  Hopkins  sailed  from  Philadelphia  with  the  American 


1  See  letter,  signed  B.  P.,  Niles's  American  Re-volution,  Baltimore,  1822,  p.  541. 

2  The  following  are  these  orders  in  full,  taken  from  American  Archives,  4th  series, 
vol.  i\,  page  179,  etc.     They  are  undoubtedly  the  first  signals  used  by  our  navy  : 
ORDERS  GIVEN  THE  SEVERAL  CAPTAINS  IN  THE  FLEET  AT  SAILING  FROM  THE  CAPES  OF 

THE  DELAWARE,  FEB.  17,  1776. 

SIR. —  You  are  hereby  ordered  to  keep  company  with  me,  if  possible,  and  truly 
observe  the  signals  given  by  the  ship  I  am  in  j  but  in  case  you  should  be  separated  in 
a  gale  of  wind  or  otherwise,  you  then  are  to  use  all  possible  means  to  join  the  fleet 
as  soon  as  possible  5  but  if  you  cannot,  in  four  days  after  you  leave  the  fleet,  you  are 
to  make  the  best  of  your  way  to  the  southern  part  of  Abacco  (one  of  the  Ba- 
hama islands)  and  there  wait  for  the  fleet  fourteen  days.  But  if  the  fleet  does  not 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  163 

fleet  "  amidst  the  acclamations  of  thousands  assembled  on  the 
joyful  occasion,  under  the  display  of  the  union  flag,  with  thirteen 
stripes  in  the  field  emblematical  of  the  thirteen  United  Colonies." 
The  first  achievement  of  this  squadron  was  the  capture  of 
New  Providence,  and  a  writer  from  thence  to  the  London  Ladies 

join  you  in  that  time,  you  are  to  cruise  in  such  places  as  you  think  will  most  annoy  the 
enemy.  And  you  are  to  send  into.  port,  for  trial,  all  British  vessels,  or  property,  or 
other  vessels,  with  any  supplies  for  the  ministerial  forces,  who  you  may  make  yourself 
master  of,  to  such  places  as  you  may  think  best  within  the  United  Colonies.  In  case 
you  are  in  any  great  danger  of  being  taken  you  are  to  destroy  these  orders  and  your 
signals.  EZECK  HOPKINS,  Commandant-in-chitf. 

SIGNALS  FOR  THE  AMERICAN  FLEET  BY  DAY. 

For  sailing:  Loose  the  foretopsail,  and  sheet  it  home. 

For  weighing  and  coming  to  sail:  Loose  all  the  topsails,  and  sheet  them  home. 

For  the  fleet  to  anchor  :  Clew  up  the  maintopsail,  and  hoist  a  weft  in  the  ensign. 

For  seeing  a  strange  vessel  .-  Hoist  the  ensign,  and  lower  and  hoist  it  as  many  times  as  you  ice 
vessels  allowing  two  minutes  between  each  time. 

For  chasing:  For  the  whole  fleet  to  chase,  a  red  pendant  at  the  foretopmast  head. 

To  give  over  the  chase  :  A  white  pendant  at  the  foretopmast  head. 

For  the  Columbus  to  chase  :  Strike  the  broad  pendant  half  mast,  to  be  answered  by  a  weft  in  the 
ensign,  and  making  sail. 

To  chase  to  windward  :  Hoist  the  ensign  lowering  the  pendant  at  the  same  time  ;  if  to  leeward  not. 

To  give  over  the  chase  :  A  white  pendant  at  the  foretopmast  head,  and  if  at  a  great  distance,  fire 
a  gun  at  the  same  time.  This  may  serve  for  any  of  the  vessels  to  give  over  the  chase  and  return  to 
the  fleet. 

For  the  Andrew  Doria  to  chase  :    A  Dutch  flag  at  the  foretopmast  head. 

To  chase  to  windward  :  Hoist  the  ensign,  lowering  the  pendant  at  the  same  time;  if  to  leeward, 
not. 

To  give  over  the  chase  :  A  white  pendant  at  the  foretopmast  head,  and  if  at  a  great  distance,  fire 
un  at  the  same  time. 

the  Cabot  to  chase  :  A  white  flag  at  the  foretopmast  head.     To  chase  to  windward,  &c.,  as 
above. 

For  the  Providence  to  chase  :  A  St.  George''}  ensign  with  stripes  at  the  mizzen  peak.  To  chase 
to  windward,  as  above. 

For  the  Fly  ta  chase  :  A  Dutch  flag  at  the  maintopmast  head.  To  chase  to  windward,  &c.,  as 
above. 

For  the  Hornet  tt  chase  :  A  red  pendant  at  the  maintopmast  head.  To  chase  to  windward,  &c., 
as  above: 

For  the  Wasp  tt  chase  :  A  Dutch  flag  at  the  mizzen  peak.  To  chase  to  windward  &c.,  as  above. 
For  a  general  attack,  or  the  whole  fleet  to  engage. 

The  standard,  at  the  maintopmast  head,  with  the  striped  jack  and  ensign  at  their  proper  places. 

To  disengage  and  form  into  a  squadron  :  A  white  flag  at  the  ensign  staff  and  the  same  into  a  weft 
for  every  vessel  to  make  the  best  of  their  way  off  from  the  enemy  for  their  own  preservation. 

For  all  captains  to  come  on  board  the  Commodore  :  A  red  pendant  at  the  ensign  staff. 

To  speak  with  the  Columbus  :  A  white  pendant  at  the  mizzen  topmast  head. 

To  speak  with  the  Andrew  Doria  :  A  Dutch  flag  at  the  mizzen  topmast  head. 

To  speak  with  the  Cabot  :  A  weft  in  a  jack  at  the  mizzen  topmast  head. 

To  speak  with  the  Providence  :  A  white  flag  at  the  mizzen  topmast  head. 

To  speak  with  the  Fly  :  A  Dutch  flag  at  the  ensign  staff". 

For  any  vessel  in  the  fleet  that  wants  to  speak  with  the  Commodore  :  A  weft  in  the  ensign,  and  if 
in  distress,  accompanied  with  two  guns. 

To  fall  into  a  line  abreast  :  A  red  pendant  at  the  mizzen  peak. 

To  fall  into  a  line  ahead  :  A  white  pendant  at  the  mizzen  peak. 

For  meeting  after  a  separation  :  A  weft  in  an  ensign,  at  the  maintopmast  head,  to  be  answered 
with  the  same,  and  cluing  up  the  maintop  gallant  sail,  if  they  have  any  set. 

For  the  ship  Providence  to  chase  :  A  red  pendant  at  the  mizzen  topmast  head.  To  chase  to  wind- 
ward as  before. 

To  speak  with  the  ship  Providence  :  A  weft  in  the  ensign  at  the  ensign  staff. 

Among  the  signal  flags  to  be  used  by  the  fleet  under  Abraham  Whipple  commo- 
dore commanding,  given  under  his  hand  on  board  the  continental  frigate,  Provi- 
dence, Nantasket  Roads,  Nov.  22d,  1779,  are  mentioned  : 

A  continental  ensign.  A  Dutch  jack  and  ensign.  A  striped  flag  and 

A  continental  jack.  A  white  ensign.  A  white  jack. 

A  red  ensign. 

Among  the  signals  prescribed  to  be  observed  by  commanders  in  the  continental 
navy  and  issued  by  order  of  the  marine  committee,  Jan.  14,  1778,  are  mentioned  as 
to  be  used, 

A  French  jack  and  A  continental  jack. 


a  gun 

For 


164  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Magazine )  under  date  May  13,  1776,  mentions  that  the  colors  of 
the  American  fleet  were  u  striped  under  the  union,  with  thirteen 
stripes,  and  their  standard  [admiral's  flag]  a  rattlesnake  ;  motto  : 
'Dont  tread  on  me.'" 

At  the  Naval  Academy,  Annapolis,  there  is  preserved  a 
mezzotinto  engraving  of"  Commodore  Hopkins,  commandcr-in-chief 
of  the  American  fleet,  published  as  the  law  directs,  22d  August, 
1776,  by  Thomas  Hart,  which  has  been  transferred  to  glass  and 
colored." x  The  commodore  is  represented  in  naval  conti- 
nental uniform,2  with  a  drawn  sword.  At  his  right  hand  there 
is  a  flag  of  thirteen  stripes  with  a  snake  undulating  across  them 
and  underneath  it  the  motto  :  "Don't  tread  on  me."  There  is 
no  union  to  this  flag  and  it  may  represent  the  striped  jack  men- 


1  There   are  extant  other  copies  of  this  engraving.     C.  I.  Bushnell,  Esq.,  of  New 
York,  has  one  from  which  our  illustration  is  engraved.  It  is  inscribed  like  the  other,  zzd 
Aug.,   1776.     Hon.  I.  R.   Bartlett  of  Providence  also  has  a  copy.      Mr.   Bushnell 
has  a  similar  mezzotinto  engraving  of  Charles  Lee,  which  has  over  a  cannon,  a  flag 
staff,  attached  to  which  is  a  plain  white  flag  bearing  the  motto  :  "  An  Appeal  to 
Heaven"  This  engraving  is  inscribed  "Charles  Lee,  Esq.,  major  general  of  the  conti- 
nental forces  in   America.     Published  as  the  act  directs   3ist  Oct.,   1775,    by  G. 
Shepherd.     Thomtinson,  pinxt."     Mr.   Bushnell  has  also  a   similar    engraving  of 
Gen.  Gates,  who  has  at  his  right  hand  a  flag  with  thirteen  black  bars  and  thirteen 
white.      It  is  inscribed  "  Horatio  Gates,  Esq.,  major  general  of  the  American  forces. 
London,  published  as  the  act  directs  2d  Jan.,  1778,  by  John  Morris."     I  have  seen 
a  colored  copy  of  this  engraving,  in  which  Gen.  Gates  is  dressed  in  a  red  coat  with 
white  or  buff  facing,  and   the  thirteen  black  bars  on  the  flag  are  painted  red. 

Our  illustration  is  reduced  and  printed  by  the  Albert  type  process,  by  the  Photo- 
plate  Printing  Company  of  New  York,  of  which  E.  Bierstadt  is  superintendent.  It 
is  a  perfect  fac  simile  of  the  original  engraving. 

2  This  uniform,  the  first  ordered  for  the  continental  navy,  as  will  be  seen,  was  pre- 
scribed by  the  marine  committee,  just  two  weeks  after  this  engraving  purports  to  have 
been  published. 

Uniform  of  Navy  and  Marine  Officers. 

In  Marine  Committee,  Philadelphia,  September  5,  1776. 

Resolved,  That  the  uniform  of  the  officers  of  the  navy  in  the  United  States  be  as 
follows  : 

Captains  :  Blue  cloth  with  red  lappells,  slash  cuff,  stand  up  collar,  flat  yellow  buttons, 
blue  breeches,  red  waistcoat,  with  yellow  lace. 

Lieutenants  :  Blue  with  red  lappells,  a  round  cuff  faced,  stand  up  collar,  yellow 
buttons,  blue  breeches,  red  waistcoat,  plain. 

Master  :  Blue  with  lappels,  round  cuff,  blue  breeches,  and  red  waistcoat. 
Midshipmen :  Blue  lappelled   coat,  a   round  cuff  faced  with   red,  stand   up  collar, 
with  red  at  the  button  and  button  hole,  blue  breeches,  and  red  waistcoat. 

Uniform  of  the  Marine  Officers. 

A  green  coat  faced  with  white,  round  cuff,  slashed  sleeves  and  pockets,  with 
buttons  round  the  cuff,  silver  epaulette  on  the  right  shoulder,  skirts  turned  back, 
buttons  to  suit  the  facings. 

White  waistcoat,  and  breeches,  edged  with  green,  black  gaiters  and  garters. 
Green  shirts  for  the  men,  if  they  can  be  procured. 

(Extract  from  the  Minutes)  : 

JOHN  BROWN,  Secretary. 
American  Archives,  (5th  series),  vol.  u,  page  181. 


COMMODORE  HOPKINS, 


I'oMMlMiril          '-ill; 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

tioned  in  his  signals  to  the  fleet.  Over  his  left  hand,  there  is  a 
white  flag  with  the  pine  tree  device  of  Massachusetts,  and  over 
it  the  words  "  Liberty  Tree"  and  under  it  "  An  Appeal  to  God" 

1  am  indebted  to  F.   J.  Dreer  of  Philadelphia,  for  a  smaller 
French  engraving  evidently  from  the  same  painting  inscribed, 
"Commodore  Hopkins   Commandeur  en   Chef  des  Amerj  :   Ftotte." 
It  is  without  date,  and  shows  only  the   flag  at  Hopkins's  right 
hand,  which  is  hoisted   on  the   ensign  staff  of  a  ship  of  the  line, 
and  has  thirteen  stripes  red  and  white,  wjthout  a  union,  rattle 
snake,  motto,  or  any  other  device.     The   ship  has  pennants  at 
each  masthead.     In  this  French  engraving  the  left  hand  of  the 
commodore,  and  ship  and  flag  over  it  are  not  shown.1 

Sherburne2  says  the  flag  hoisted  by  Jones  was  composed  of 
alternate  stripes  of  red  and  blue  with  a  rattlesnake  running  across 
the  field,  and  the  usual  motto. 

Cooper  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  flag  hoisted  by  Jones  was  a 
pine  tree  flag  with  a  rattlesnake  coiled  at  its  roots,  and  the  motto. 
Such  flags  were  hoisted  over  the  Massachusetts  state  cruisers, 
and  though  unlikely,  it  is  possible  such  a  flag  was  hoisted  over 
the  Alfred,  previous  to  the  New  Year,  but  Jones  would  scarcely 
have  called  it  the  flag  of  America.  The  proof  is  certain,  however, 
that  the  squadron  sailed  under  striped  ensigns.  An  anonymous 
writer  to  the  Boston  Post,  in  1853,  asserts  he  had  then  before  him 
a  fac  simile  of  the  flag  used  by  the  Confederate  states,  from  July, 
1776,  until  the  adoption  of  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  that  in  the 
union  emblem  of  the  stripes,  there  is  a  rattlesnake  coiled  up  and 
ready  to  strike,  with  the  usual  motto  underneath.  A  writer  in 
Harper's  Magazine,*  states  but  without  giving  his  authority : 
"  The  Alfred  was  anchored  off  the  foot  of  Walnut  street.  On 
a  brilliant  morning  early  in  February,  1776,  gay  streamers  were 
seen  floating  from  every  mast  head  and  spar  on  the  river.  At 
nine  o'clock  a  full  manned  barge  threaded  its  way  among  the 
floating  ice  to  the  Alfred  bearing  the  commodore  who  had 
chosen  that  vessel  for  his  flag  ship.  He  was  greeted  by  the 
thunders  of  artillery  and  the  shouts  of  a  multitude.  When  he 
reached  the  deck  of  the  Alfred,  Captain  Saltonstallgave  a  signal, 

1  Mr.  Bushnell  has  furnished  me  with  a  tracing  of  another  French  engraving  of 
Hopkins,  undated.  It  is  in  an  oval  surrounded  by  emblems,  etc.,  and  under  it  are 
the  two  flags  shown  in  the  Hart  engraving. 

2  Life  of  Paul  Jones.          »  July,  1855. 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

and  Lieut.  Jones  hoisted  a  new  flag  prepared  for  the  occasion. 
It  was  of  yellow  «7/£  bearing  a  pine  tree  with  the  significant  device  of 
a  rattlesnake  with  the  ominous  motto  :  "  Don't  tread  on  me."  This 
is  like  the  flag  presented  to  congress  by  Col.  Gaddsen,  in 
February,  as  the  one  in  use  by  the  commander-in-chief  of  the 
American  navy,  with  the  addition  of  a  pine  tree  to  its  devices.1 

A  letter  from  Williamsburg,  Va.,  dated  April  10,  1776,  states 
that  the  Roebuck,  a  British  cruiser  had  taken  two  prizes  in 
Delaware  which  she  decoyed  into  her  reach  by  hoisting  a  con- 
tinental union  flag.  The  affidavit  of  Mr.  Berry,  master's  mate 
of  the  ship  Grace,  captured  by  the  Roebuck  confirms  the  state- 
ment of  the  letter.2 

Another  letter  dating  from  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  n, 
1776,3  describes  the  colors  of  the  American  fleet  as  follows. 
The  colors  of  the  American  fleet  have  a  snake  with  thirteen 
rattles,  the  fourteenth  budding,4  described  in  the  attitude  of  go- 
ing to  strike,  with  this  motto,  "  Don't  tread  on  me  !  " 

It  is  a  rule  in  heraldry  that  the  worthy  properties  of  the  animal 
in  the  crest  borne  shall  be  considered,  and  the  base  ones  cannot 
be  intended.  The  ancients  accounted  a  snake  or  a  serpent  an 
emblem  of  wisdom,  and  in  certain  attitudes  of  endless  duration. 
The  rattlesnake  is  properly  a  representative  of  America,  as  the 
animal  is  found  in  no  other  part  of  the  world.  The  eye  of  the 
creature  excels  in  brightness  most  of  any  other  animal.  She 
has  no  eyelids,  and  is  therefore  an  emblem  of  vigilance.  She 
never  begins  an  attack,  nor  ever  surrenders  ,  she  is  therefore 
an  emblem  of  magnanimity  and  true  courage.  When  injured 
or  in  danger  of  being  injured,  she  never  wounds  till  she  has 
given  notice  to  her  enemies  of  their  danger.  No  other  of  her 

1  An  English  writer  of  the  period  is  quoted  by  Robert  C.  Sands  in  his  Life  of  Paul 
Jones,  assaying: 

"  A  strange  flag  has  lately  appeared  in  our  seas,  bearing  a  pine  tree  with  the  portrait- 
ure of  a  rattlesnake  coiled  up  at  its  roots  with  these  daring  words  :  '  Don't  tread  on  me.' 
We  learn  that  the  vessels  bearing  this  flag  have  a  sort  of  commission  from  a  society 
of  people  at  Philadelphia,  calling  themselves  the  continental  congress." 

3  Penn.  Eve.  Post,  June  20,  1776. 

3  American  Archives,  4th  series,  vol.  vi,  p.  420,  also  Boston  Gazette,  April  14,  1777, 
This  letter  bears  no    signature,  but    immediately  above  it  and  on  the  same   page    in 
Am.  Archives  there  is   a  letter  of  the  same  date  from  Williamsburgh   addressed  by 
Gen.  Charles  Lee  to  Gen.  Washington. 

4  The   half  formed  additional  rattle  was  said    by  Franklin,  to    represent  the  Pro- 
vince of  Canada,  and  the  tuise  man  added  that  "the  rattles  are  united  together  so  that  they 
can  never  be  separated  but  by  breaking  to  pieces." —  Chas.  SumncSs  Lecture,  "  Are  -we 
a  Nation." 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  167 

kind  shows  such  generosity.  When  undisturbed  and  in  peace, 
she  does  not  appear  to  be  furnished  with  weapons  of  any  kind. 
They  are  latent  in  the  roof  of  her  mouth,  and  even  when  ex- 
tended for  her  defence,  appear  to  those  who  are  not  acquainted 
with  her  to  be  weak  and  contemptible  ;  yet  her  wounds  how- 
ever small,  are  decisive  and  fatal.  She  is  solitary,  and  asso- 
ciates with  her  kind  only  when  it  is  necessary  for  their 
preservation.  Her  poison  is  at  once  the  necessary  means  of 
digesting  her  food  and  certain  destruction  to  her  enemies.  The 
power  of  fascination  attributed  to  her  by  a  general  construction, 
resembles  America.  Those  who  look  steadily  on  her  are  de- 
lighted, and  involuntarily  advance  towards  her,  and,  having 
once  approached  never  leave  her.  She  is  frequently  found  with 
thirteen  rattles  and  they  increase  yearly.  She  is  beautiful  in 
youth,  and  her  beauty  increases  with  her  age.  Her  tongue  is 
blue  and  forked  as  the  lightning. 

John  F.  Watson,  in  his  Annals  of  New  TorkJ  states  that  when 
the  Alliance  Frigate  was  commanded  by  Jones,  she  bore  the 
then  national  flag  of  the  coiled  up  rattlesnake  and  thirteen  stripes. 
As  the  Alliance  was  not  launched  until  1777,  and  Jones  did  not 
command  her  until  1779,  at  which  time  she  must  have  carried 
the  stars  and  stripes.  Watson  is  evidently  mistaken.  On  the 
I7th  Dec.,  1779,  the  Dutch  admiral  at  the  Texel  wrote  Jones, 
asking  to  be  informed  whether  the  Alliance  was  a  French  or 
an  American  vessel  ;  if  the  first,  the  admiral  expected  him  to 
show  his  commission  and  display  the  French  ensign  and  pendant, 
announcing  it  by  firing  a  gun  ;  if  an  American,  that  he  should 
lose  no  occasion  to  depart.  The  French  commissary  of  ma- 
rine urged  him  to  satisfy  all  parties  by  hoisting  French  colors, 
but  Jones  refused  to  wear  any  other  than  the  American  flag,  and 
sent  word  to  the  admiral,  that  under  that  flag  he  should  proceed 
to  sea  whenever  the  pilot  would  undertake  to  carry  the  ship  out. 
At  length  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  December  Jones  had 
the  satisfaction  of  announcing  himself  at  sea  in  the  Alliance,  whence 
he  wrote  to  Mr.  Dumas  by  the  pilot:  "  I  am  here,  my  dear  sir, 
with  a  good  wind  at  East,  and  under  my  best  American  colors" 
Favored  by  a  strong  east  wind,  the  Alliance  the  next  day  passed 
through  the  Straits  of  Dover,  with  her  colors  set,  running  close 
to  the  Goodwin  sands,  in  full  view  of  the  fleet,  anchored  in  the 

1  Annals  of  New  Tork,  p.  34. 


1(58  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Downs  only  three  or  four  miles  to  leeward.  On  the  29th,  she 
reconnoitered  the  fleet  at  Spithead,  still  showing  her  colors,  and 
on  the  1 8th  of  Jan.  1780,  was  fairly  out  of  the  channel.1 

It  is  claimed  for  Commodore  Barney  that  he  was  first  to 
hoist  the  continental  flag  in  Maryland.  He  was  appointed  the 
second  in  rank,  to  the  sloop  Hornet,  one  of  Hopkins's  squadron. 
A  crew  had  not  been  shipped,  and  the  duty  of  recruiting  fell  upon 
him.  Fortunately  for  his  purpose  just  at  this  moment  the  new 
American  flag  sent  by  Commodore  Hopkins  for  the  service  of 
the  Hornet  arrived  from  Philadelphia,  the  first  that  had  been  seen 
in  the  state  of  Maryland.  His  biographer  calls  it  a  star-spangled 
banner,  but  that  is  evidently  her  mistake.  The  next  morn- 
ing at  sunrise  Barney  unfurled  it  to  the  music  of  drums  and 
fifes,  and  hoisting  it  upon  a  staff  planted  it  with  his  own  hands 
at  the  door  of  his  rendezvous.  The  heart-stirring  sounds  of  the 
martial  music,  then  a  novelty  in  Baltimore,  and  the  still  more 
novel  sight  of  the  rebel  colors  gracefully  waving  in  the  breeze, 
attracted  crowds  of  all  ranks  and  sizes  to  the  gay  scene  of  the 
rendezvous,  and  before  the  setting  of  the  same  day's  sun  the  young 
recruiting  officer  had  enlisted  a  full  crew  of  jolly  rebels  for  the 
Hornet.2  There  seems  to  be  a  charm  in  rebel  colors  for  the 
Baltimoreans,  which  has  descended  to  recent  times. 

That  Paul  Jones  was  the  first  to  hoist  the  new  continental 
flag  has  been  doubted,  and  he  may  have  been  mistaken,  Cooper  3 
remarks.  He  always  claimed  to  have  been  the  first  man  to  hoist 
the  flag  of  1775,  in  a  national  ship,  and  the  first  man  to  show 
the  present  ensign  on  board  a  man-of-war.  This  may  be  true 
or  not.  There  was  a  weakness  about  the  character  of  the  man 
that  rendered  him  a  little  liable  to  self-delusions  of  this  nature, 
and  while  it  is  probable  he  was  right  as  to  the  flag  which  was 
shown  before  Philadelphia,  the  town  where  congress  was  sitting, 
it  is  by  no  means  as  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  first  of  the 
permanent  flags  [stars  and  stripes]  was  shown  at  a  place  as  dis- 
tant as  Portsmouth.  The  circumstances  are  of  no  moment, 
except  as  they  serve  to  betray  a  want  of  simplicity  of  character, 
that  was  rather  a  failing  with  the  man,  and  his  avidity  for  per- 
sonal distinction  of  every  sort. 

1  Mackenzie's  Life  of  Paul  Jones,  vol.  i,  p.  2,52,  253. 

2  Life  of  Commodore  Joshua  Barney,  by  Mary  Barney. 

3  Cooper' 's  Life  of  Paul  Jones,  p.  31. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  169 

John  Adams  addressing  Elbridge  Gerry,  who  was  then  the  vice 
president  of  the  U.  S.,  from  Quincy,  Jan.  28,  1813,*  disputes  the 
claim  of  Jones,  and  says,  with  the  pride  of  a  Massachusetts  man 
jealous  of  honors  for  the  Pilgrim  state:  "Philadelphia  is  now 
boasting  that  Paul  Jones  has  asserted  in  his  Journal  that  '  this 
hand  hoisted  the  first  American  flag,7  and  Captain  Barry  has  as- 
serted that '  the  first  British  flag  was  struck  to  him/  now  I  assert 
that  the  first  American  flag  was  hoisted  by  Capt.  John  Manly, 
and  the  first  British  flag  was  struck  to  him.  You  were  not  in  con- 
gress in  1775,  but  you  was  in  the  state  congress  and  must  have 
known  the  history  of  Manly's  capture  of  the  transport  which 
contained  the  mortar,2  which  afterwards  on  Dorchester  Heights 
drove  the  English  army  from  Boston,  and  navy  from  the 
harbor." 

He  also  wrote  to  John  Langdon  who  was  a  member  of  the 
first  naval  committee  Jan.  24,1813:  "  My  recollection  has 
been  excited  lately  by  information  from  Philadelphia  that  Paul 
Jones  has  written  in  his  Journal, c  My  hand  first  hoisted  the 
American  flag,'  and  that  Capt.  Barry  used  to  say  that  the  first 
British  flag  was  struck  to  him.'  Both  these  vain  boasts  I 
know  to  be  false,  and  as  you  know  them  to  be  so,  I  wish  your 
testimony  to  corroborate  mine.  It  is  not  decent  nor  just  that 
these  emigrants,  foreigners  of  the  South,  should  falsely  arrogate 
to  themselves  merit  that  belongs  to  New  England  sailors,  offi- 
cers and  men." 

Mr.  Langdon  replied  from  Portsmouth,  "Jan.  27,  1813:" 
"  The  appointment  of  Manly  and  his  successors  must  be  well 
known  throughout  the  United  States.  As  to  Paul  Jones,  if  my 
memory  serves  me,  pretending  to  say  that  c  this  hand  first  hoisted 


1  Austin's  Life  of  Elbridge  Gerry. 

2  The  transport  brig  Nancy  with  military  stores,  several  brass  guns,  and  one  mortar 
was  captured  by  the  schooner  Lee,  Capt.  John  Manly  of  4  guns,  10    swivels  and  50 
men    on  the  29th   Nov.,  1775.      Dec.  8th,  he    captured  the    ship  Jenny  of  2  guns, 
loaded  with  provisions,  and  the  brig  Hannah,  and  beat  off  a  British   schooner  of   8 
guns  having  two  vessels  under  convoy. 

Capt.  Barry  did  not  get  to  sea  in  the  Lexington  until  Feb.,  1776.  We  have  no 
account  of  the  flag  worn  by  Manly.  It  was  probably  the  pine  tree  flag.  I  think  Jones 
may  retain  his  honors,  and  that  for  Barry  it  can  be  truthfully  claimed,  that  he  was 
the  first  under  the  striped  flag  to  capture  an  armed  vessel  of  the  enemy. 

The  fortunate  capture  of  the  Nancy  is  alluded  to  in  one  of  Mr.  John  Adams's  letters. 


170  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

the  American  flag,'  and  Capt.  Barry  that  'the  first  British  flag 
struck  to  him,'  they  are  both  unfounded,  as  it  is  impressed  on  my 
mind  that  many  prizes  were  brought  into  the  New  England  states 
before  their  names  were  mentioned."  J 

The  Lexington  brig  mounting  fourteen  four -pounders  and 
commanded  by  Capt.  John  Barry,  has  been  credited  as  the  first  of 
the  new  continental  marine  to  get  to  sea  and  to  display  the  striped 
flag  upon  the  ocean.  There  had  been  private  and  colonial 
marine  enterprises  and  cruisers  previously,  as  there  were  later. 
As  we  have  shown  two  vessels,  the  Lynch  and  the  Franklin, 
had  been  commissioned  by  Gen.  Washington,  and  had  sailed 
under  the  pine  tree  flag,  and  two  small  vessels  the  Wasp  and 
Hornet  had  come  around  from  Baltimore  to  join  the  fleet  in  the 
Delaware,2  but  it  was  claimed  for  the  Lexington  that  she  was 
the  first  to  get  to  sea,  and  Cooper  in  the  earlier  editions  of  his 
Naval  History  so  asserted,  but  in  his  later  editions  he  says  an 
examination  of  the  private  papers  of  Capt.  Barry  has  shown 
him,  that  Capt.  B.  was  actually  employed  on  shore  or  in  the 
Delaware  for  a  short  time  after  Commodore  Hopkins  got  to 
sea.3  The  first  regular  commissioned  cruisers  therefore  of  the 
national  navy  of  the  United  Colonies  were  those  of  Hopkins's 
squadron.  The  fleet  left  Philadelphia  early  in  January,  1776.4 

The  following  letter  contains  an  account  of  its  departure  from 
thence  for  Reedy  Island  : 

Newbern,  N.  C.,  Feb.  Qth,  1776. 

"  By  a  gentleman  from  Philadelphia^  we  have  received  the 
pleasing  account  of  the  actual  sailing  from  that  place  of  the  first 
American  fleet  that  ever  swelled  their  sails  on  the  Western  Oceany 


1  Life  and  Works  of  John  Adams,  vol.  x,  pp.  28  and  29,  where  also  are  his  letters 
to  Elbridge  Gerry,  pp.  30,  31. 

2  Tuesday,  January  9,  1776. 

Resolved,  That  a  letter  be  written  to  Mr.  Tilghman  informing  him  that  the  Hor- 
net and  Wasp  are  under  orders  to  sail  to  the  Capes  of  Delaware,  and  that  such 
vessels  as  are  ready  to  sail,  may  take  the  benefit  of  that  convoy. 

That  the  committee  for  fitting  out  armed  vessels,  be  directed  to  give  orders  to  the 
captains  of  the  Hornet  and  Wasp,  to  take  under  their  convoy  such  vessels  as  are  ready 
to  sail. —  Am.  Archives,  4th  series,  vol.  iv,  p.  1637. 

8  Cooper's  Naval  History,  edition  1856. 

4  The  naval  committee  were  authorized  by  the  committee  of  safety  of  Pennsylvania 
under  date  Jan.  I,  1776,  to  engage  three  of  the  pilocs  of  that  province  to  conduct 
the  vessels,  down  to  Reedy  island,  and  the  committee  of  safety  also  authorized  the 
loan  of  a  number  of  men  from  the  armed  bodies  of  that  province,  to  navigate  the 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

in  defence  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  these 
colonies,  now  suffering  under  the  persecuting  rod  of  the  British 
ministry,  and  their  more  than  brutish  tyrants  in  America.  This 
fleet  consists  of  five  sails,  fitted  out  from  Philadelphia,  which 
are  to  be  joined  at  the  Capes  of  Virginia,  by  two  ships  more  from 
Maryland,  and  is  commanded  by  Admiral  Hopkins,  a  most  ex- 
perienced and  venerable  sea  captain.  The  admiral's  ship  is 
called  the  Columbus,  after  Christopher  Columbus,  thirty-six  guns, 
twelve  and  nine  pounders,  on  two  decks,  forty  swivels,  and  five 
hundred  men.  The  second  ship  is  called  the  Cabot,  after  Se- 
bastian Cabot,  who  completed  the  discoveries  of  America  made 
by  Columbus,  and  mounts  thirty-two  guns.  The  others  are 
smaller  vessels,  from  twenty-four  to  fourteen  guns.  They  sailed 
from  Philadelphia,  amidst  the  acclamations  of  many  thousands 
assembled  on  the  joyful  occasion,  under  the  display  of  a  union 
flag  with  thirteen  stripes  in  the  field,  emblematical  of  the  thirteen 
United  Colonies',  but  unhappily  for  us,  the  ice  in  the  river 
Delaware,  as  yet  obstructs  the  passage  down,  but  the  time  will 
now  soon  arrive  when  this  fleet  must  come  to  action.  Their 
destination  is  a  secret,  but  generally  supposed  to  be  against  the 
Ministerial  Governours,  those  little  petty  tyrants  that  have  lately 
spread  fire  and  sword  throughout  these  southern  colonies.  For 
the  happy  success  of  this  little  fleet,  three  millions  of  people 
offer  their  most  earnest  supplications  to  Heaven."  x 

At  Reedy  Island  the  squadron  was  frozen  up  for  six  weeks, 
and  did  not  leave  the  Delaware  until  the  lyth  of  February.2 
On  the  iQth,  the  Hornet  and  Fly  parted  company.  The 
first  achievement  of  the  squadron  under  the  national  flag  was  a 
descent  upon  New  Providence  where  near  one  hundred  cannon 


vessels  belonging  to  congress  down.  The  naval  committee's  sailing  orders  to  Hopkins 
are  dated  Jan.  5,  1776. —  Am.  Archives,  4th  series,  vol.  iv,  pp.  506  and  578. 
Washington  in  his  letter  to  Read  Jan.  4,  1776,  after  describing  his  raising  the  union 
flag  at  Cambridge,  says  :  "  I  fear  your  fleet  has  been  so  long  fitting  out  and  the  de- 
stination of  it  is  so  well  known,  that  the  end  will  be  defeated,  if  the  vessel  escape." 

1  American  Archives,  4th  series,  vol.  iv,  page  964.  John  Adams  in  a  letter  dated 
"  Quincy,  April  13,  1819,"  writes:  "I  lay  no  serious  claim  to  the  title  of  Father  of 
the  American  navy  or  of  any  thing  else  except  my  own  family.  Have  you  seen  the 
History  of  the  American  Navy  written  by  a  Mr.  Clark  and  edited  by  Mat.  Carey  ?  I 
gave  the  name  Alfred,  Columbus,  Cabot,  and  Andrea  Doriatothe  first  ships  that  sailed 
under  the  flag  of  the  United  Colonies." —  Watson's  Men  and  Times  of  the  Re-volution. 

*  Life  of  Paul  Jones  ;  Hopkins'  Orders  to  the  Fleet ;    Cooper'1!  Naval  History,  etc. 


172  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

and  a  large  quantity  of  other  stores  fell  into  its  hands.  After 
hoisting  the  striped  flag  and  holding  possession  of  the  place  for 
a  few  days,  Commodore  Hopkins  left  on  the  iyth  of  March, 
bringing  away  the  governor  and  one  or  two  men  of  note.1 

On  this  occasion,  the  first  that  ever  occurred  in  the  regular 
American  navy,  the  marines  under  Captain  Nicholas  appear 
to  have  behaved  with  the  spirit  and  steadiness  that  has  distin- 
guished the  corps  from  that  hour  down  to  the  present  time. 

Scattering  his  small  vessels  along  the  southern  coast,  the  com- 
modore arrived  with  the  remainder  of  his  squadron  off  Montauk 
point  on  the  4th  of  April,  where  he  captured  a  small  vessel  of 
six  guns,  and  on  the  6th  engaged  the  Glasgow  20,  Capt. 
Tyringham  Howe,  which  managed  to  get  into  Newport  where 
the  English  squadron  then  was. 

On  the  i  yth  of  April,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  capes  of 
Virginia,  the  Lexington  supported  the  honor  of  the  new  flag  by 
capturing  after  a  close  and  spirited  action  the  British  armed 
brig  Edward  mounting  sixteen  four-pounders,  two  more  than 
her  antagonist.  The  Lexington  had  but  four  men  killed 
while  the  Edward  was  very  much  cut  to  pieces  and  suffered 
severe  loss.  The  Lexington's  career  was  short  but  glorious. 
In  October  of  the  same  year  near  the  spot  where  she  engaged 
the  Edward,  she  was  captured  by  the  frigate  Pearl.  In  the 
night  the  Americans  overpowered  the  prize  crew,  and  took  the 
brig  to  Baltimore  where  she  was  immediately  recommissioned 
and  sailed  thence  March,  1777,  for  Europe  where  she  arrived. 
Cruising  in  company  with  the  Dolphin  and  Reprisal  she  was 
chased  by  a  ship  of  the  line,  but  escaped  into  Morlaix  where  she 
was  seized  and  detained  by  the  French  government  until  Septem- 
ber. The  day  after  her  release  she  sailed,  and  the  next  day 
surrendered  to  the  British  man-of-war  cutter  Alert,  after  an 
action  of  an  hour  and  a  half  (during  which  all  her  ammunition 
was  expended)  and  a  hard  chase  of  four  hours.  Conquered  but 
not  subdued  and  unable  to  return  her  opponent's  fire,  Capt. 
Johnson,  her  commander,  to  save  the  lives  of  his  crew,  was 
compelled  to  strike  her  colors.  • 


1  Cooper's  Naval  History. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  173 

When  taken  she  had  been  in  service  only  about  one  year  and 
eight  months.  She  was  the  first  vessel  that  bore  the  continental 
flag  to  victory  on  the  ocean,  and  in  her  short  career  had  fought 
two  severe  actions  under  it,  was  twice  taken  and  once  recaptured, 
was  otherwise  engaged  with  armed  vessels,  and  captured  several 
prizes.  This  Lexington  of  the  seas  occupies  therefore  some- 
thing the  same  position  in  our  naval  annals  that  the  Lexing- 
ton from  whom  she  derives  her  name  does  from  having  been 
the  arena  of  the  first  conflict  of  the  colonies  with  England. 

A  correspondent  in  England  says  :  u  An  American  privateer 
was  some  time  since  taken  by  one  of  our  frigates.  She  carried 
the  continental  colors,  which  are  thirteen  red  and  white  stripes ; 
but  it  was  observed  that  this  privateer  had  but  twelve  stripes  in 
his  colors.  On  being  asked  the  reason,  he  answered  that  since 

O  ' 

we  had  taken  the  province  of  New  York,  the  congress  had  a 
province  less  ;  and  that  whenever  they  lost  any  of  the  provinces, 
it  was  their  orders  to  cut  away  one  of  the  stripes  from  their 
colors,  so  that  there  should  be  no  more  stripes  than  provinces."1 
It  has  been  suggested  as  the  reason  a  flag  emblematic  of  the 
union  of  the  colonies  was  not  sooner  adopted,  that  it  required 
the  adherence  of  Georgia  to  complete  their  union.  On  the  6th 
of  July,  1775,  Georgia  in  her  provincial  congress  assented  to  all 
the  measures  of  resistance  and  united  with  the  other  colonies 
against  the  ministerial  measures,  but  the  flag  with  thirteen  stripes 
was  not  hoisted  until  January. 

It  is  not  the  province  of  this  work  to  follow  the  naval  events 
of  the  war  only  as  they  are  connected  with  the  history  of  the  flag 
under  its  several  phases,  and  show  where  and  when  it  first  made 
its  mark  upon  the  ocean. 

The  first  American  vessel  of  war  to  show  the  continental 
flag  to  the  European  world  was  the  Reprisal,  Capt.  Wickes,  a 
brig  like  the  Lexington  of  16  guns.  She  sailed  from  home 
soon  after  the  declaration  of  independence  with  Dr.  Frank- 
lin on  board  as  a  passenger,  and  appeared  in  France  in  the 
autumn  of  1776,  bringing  in  several  prizes.  The  prizes  were 
directed  to  quit  France  without  delay,  and  the  Reprisal  was  with 
the  Lexington  detained  until  security  was  given  that  they 


Low's  Astronomical  Diary,   1777. 


174  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

would  quit  the  European  seas.  When  released,  the  Reprisal 
sailed  for  America  agreeably  to  the  conditions  of  the  French 
government,  and  foundered  on  the  banks  of  Newfoundland, 
when  all  on  board  perished  with  the  exception  of  the  cook. 

The  first  vessel  to  obtain  a  salute  for  the  new  flag  from  a 
foreign  power  was  the  brig  Andrea  Doria,  Capt.  Robinson, 
mounting  14  four-pounders.  This  little  brig  was  purchased 
prior  to  the  resolution  of  Dec.  22d,  1775,  and  had  already  done 
some  active  cruising  under  the  command  of  Nicholas  Biddle. 
She  sailed  from  Philadelphia,  July,  1776,  and  proceeded  at  once 
to  St.  Eustatia  to  procure  some  arms.  On  her  arrival  at  that 
port,  she  saluted  the  Dutch  flag,  and  her  salute  was  returned 
by  the  governor  who  was  subsequently  removed  from  office  for 
his  indiscretion.1 

On  her  return  the  Andrea  Dorea  captured  the  Race  Horse 
of  12  guns,  a  vessel  of  about  her  own  force,  and  arrived  at 
Philadelphia  with  her  prize.  When  the  evacuation  of  Fort 
Mifflin  gave  command  of  the  Delaware  to  the  British,  both 
vessels  were  burnt  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

On  the  29th  of  Oct.,  1776,  the  continental  congress 
passed  the  following  resolve,  though  it  does  not  appear  upon 
its  journals  that  up  to  that  time,  or  for  several  months  later 
there  was  any  legislation  establishing  a  national  flag.2 

Resolved,  That  no  private  ship  or  vessel  of  war,  merchant 
ship  or  other  vessel  belonging  to  the  subjects  of  these  states  be 
permitted  to  wear  pendants  when  in  company  with  continental 
ships  or  vessels  of  war  without  leave  from  the  commanding  offi- 
cer thereof.  That  if  any  merchant  ship  or  vessel  shall  wear 
pendants  in  company  with  continental  ships  or  vessels  of  war 
without  leave  from  the  commander  thereof,  such  commander  be 
authorized  to  take  away  the  pendant  from  the  offender.  That 
if  private  ships  or  vessels  of  war  refuse  to  pay  the  respect  due 

1  In  1863  the  confederate  (rebel)  cruiser  Florida  received  a  return  salute  from   the 
English  authorities  at  Bermuda,  but  we  do  not  learn  that  the  governor  was  removed 
for  his  indiscretion. 

2  Journal  of  Congress,  Tuesday,  Oct.   2,9,    1776,  vol.  I,  p.  531    (edition    of  Way 
&  Gideon,  Washington,  1823). 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  175 

the  continental  ships,  or  vessels  of  war,  the  captain  or  com- 
mander refusing  shall  lose  his  commission. 

This  law,  says  Cooper  in  his  Naval  History,  who  gives  the 
date  of  it  a  year  earlier  (1775),  "was  framed  in  a  proper  spirit, 
and  manifested  an  intention  to  cause  the  authorized  agents  of  the 
government  on  the  high  seas  to  be  properly  respected.  It  ex- 
cites a  smile,  however,  that  the  whole  marine  of  the  country 
consisted  at  that  time  of  two  small  vessels,  that  were  not  yet 
equipped." x  He  might  have  added  and  before  any  national  flag 
to  be  so  respected  had  been  by  legal  enactment,  so  far  as  the  jour- 
nals of  congress  show  prescribed.  The  official  legal  origin  of  the 
grand  union  striped  flag  at  Cambridge,  and  the  other  striped 
flags  worn  by  the  fleet  of  Commodore  Hopkins  is  to  this  day 
involved  in  obscurity. 

It  is  singular  that  no  mention  of  their  official  establishment 
can  be  found  in  the  private  diaries  of  the  times,  the  official  and 
private  correspondence  since  made  public  of  the  prominent  actors 
of  the  revolution,  the  newspapers  of  the  times  or  the  journals  of 
the  provincial  and  continental  congresses.  We  simply  know 
from  a  variety  of  testimony,  that  there  was  a  striped  continental 
flag,  representing  the  majesty  and  authority  of  the  thirteen  United 
Colonies. 

A  letter  dated  from  Newport,  Oct.  21,  1776,  says,  on  the 
authority  of  a  Capt  Vickery  just  arrived  from  the  West  Indies: 
"  No  vessel  is  suffered  to  wear  English  colors  in  any  French 
port,  but  continental  colors  are  displayed  every  Sunday  and 
much  admired."2 

We  have  established  in  the  preceding  pages  that  the  earliest 
flags  planted  on  the  shores  of  North  America,  of  which  there 
is  any  record  were  those  of  England.  That  through  the 
colonial  and  provincial  periods  they  were  continued  in  the 
Anglo-Saxon  settlements  with  the  addition  of  various  devices 
mottoes  up  to  the  time  of  the  grand  union  flag  raising  at 


2The  list  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  U.  S.  Navy,  Oct.  1776,  was  (the  date  of 
the  resolve),  as  given  by  Cooper:  13  vessels  of  from  32  to  28  guns  building,  and  13 
vessels  in  service,  viz  :  I,  of  24,  I  of  20,  2  of  16,  3  of  14,  I  of  12,  2  of  10,  and  3 
smaller,  814  guns.  At  the  same  time  (Oct.  10,  1776),  a  resolution  passed  congress 
defining  the  relative  rank  of  the  24  captains  then  in  the  navy. —  Cooper's  Naval 
History,  1856  ed.,  pp.  57,  5 8. 

2  American  Archives,  vol.  i,  5th  series,  p.  173. 


176  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  Jan.  2,  1776,  when  the  long  esta- 
blished and  well  known  red  resign  of  England  bearing  in  its  union 
the  blended  crosses  of  St.  George  and  St.  Andrew,  emblematic 
of  the  union  of  Scotland  and  England,  was  striped  in  its  field  with 
thirteen  stripes,  alternate  red  and  white,  as  an  emblem  of  the 
union  of  the  thirteen  United  Colonies,  against  the  oppressive  acts 
of  the  ministerial  government  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great 
Britain,  whose  symbol  they  nevertheless  retained.  We  now 
have  arrived  at  the  period  when  this  last  semblance  of  loyalty 
was  to  be  abandoned,  and  the  striped  union  flag  of  the  colonies 
received  added  beauty  and  new  significance  by  the  erasure  of 
the  blended  crosses  of  St.  George  and  St.  Andrew  and  the  sub- 
stitution of  a  canopy  of  stars,  on  a  blue  field  representing  a  new 
constellation  in  the  western  political  heavens,  an  entire  separa- 
tion of  the  colonies  from  Great  Britain,  and  the  advent  among 
the  nations  of  the  earth  of  a  new  power  which  had,  by  its  declara- 
tion of  rights,  a  few  months  previous,  solemnly  proclaimed  a 
free  and  independent  state,  under  the  name  of  THE  UNITED 
STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

When  the  declaration  of  independence  was  declared  from  the 
State  House,  at  Philadelphia,  the  king's  arms  were  taken  down 
by  nine  associates  appointed  for  the  purpose,  who  conveyed 
them  to  a  pile  of  casks  which  had  been  erected  on  the  common 
for  a  bonfire,  and  the  arms  being,placed  on  top  were  so  destroyed.2 

Flags  with  different  devices  and  mottoes  still  continued,  how- 
ever, to  be  used  by  troops  in  the  field. 

At  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  Aug.  26,  1776,  the  Hessian 
regiment,  Rail  saw  a  troop  of  about  fifty  Americans  hastening 
towards  them  with  flying  colors.  Rail  commanded  to  give  fire. 
The  Americans,  who  had  lost  their  way,  or  who  had  been  cut 
off  from  their  countrymen,  surrendered  and  begged  for  quarters, 
whereupon  they  laid  down  their  arms.  An  under  officer  leap- 
ing forward  took  away  the  colors.  He  was  about  to  present 
them  to  Colonel  Rail  when  General  Von  Merbach  arrived, 


1  Hinman  in  his  Conn.,  in  the  Revolutionary  War^  page  114,  notes:  "In  1776, 
the  red  ground  of  the  American  flag  was  altered  to  thirteen  blue  and  'white  stripes  as 
an  emblem  of  the  thirteen  colonies  united  in  war  for  Liberty."  His  note  has  no  con- 
nection with  the  text,  and  he  does  not  give  his  authority  for  his  statement. 

3  Diary  of  Chris.  Marshall,  1774-77- 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


177 


and  was  about  snatching  the  colors  from  the  under  officer's  hands 
when  Rail  said  in  a  tone  of  vexation,  "  By  no  means  general, 
my  grenadiers  have  taken  those  colors,  they  shall  keep  them, 
and  I  shall  not  permit  any  one  to  take  them  away."  A  short 
altercation  now  took  place  between  them  and  they  separated  in 
angry  mood,  but  the  colors  remained  for  the  present  with  Rail's 
regiment.  The  captured  colors  were  of  red  damask,  with  the 
motto  Liberty.  The  Americans  took  their  stand  at  the  head  of 
the  regiment  Rail  with  their  arms  reversed,  carrying  their  hats 
under  their  arms,  and  fell  upon  their  knees,  and  earnestly  en- 
treated that  their  lives  might  be  spared.1 

I  have  an  undated  engraving  of  what  purports  to  be  the  battle 
of  White  Plains  [Oct.  28,  1776,]  but  which  seems  to  represent 
the  scene  above  described,  the  Americans  carrying  a  flag  of 
which  the  annexed  is  a  fac-simile. 


1  Hessian    account  of  the  battle  of  Long  Island.     Memoirs   of  Long  Island  Hist. 
Soc.,  vol.  n,  pp.  434,  435. 


American  Flag. 

From  an  old  English  engraving  of  the  battle  of 
White  Plains,  Oct.  a8,  1776. 


23 


PL.  VII! 
THE   STARS    AND      STRIPES,  1777-1872. 


PROPOSED  STANDARD 
1B18 


1818 


1818 


1847 

39  STARS.     1?,<;rit/PFS 


1872 

37  STAKS  .       13  STKIFFS 


PART    III. 

THE  STARS  AND  STRIPES. 

A.  D.    1777-1818. 


THEORIES  AS  TO  THE  ORIGIN  OF   THE   STARS  AND  STRIPES  AS 
THE  DEVICES  OF  OUR  NATIONAL  BANNER. 


THE   THIRTEEN   STARS   AND   THIRTEEN  STRIPES   DURING  THE 
REVOLUTION. 

1777-1783. 
THE  FLAG  OF  THIRTEEN  STARS  AND  THIRTEEN  STRIPES. 


THE  FLAG  OF  FIFTEEN  STARS  AND  FIFTEEN  STRIPES. 
1795-1818. 


"  Thou  hast  given  a  banner  to  them  that  fear  thee,  that  it  may  be  displayed  be- 
cause of  the  truth." —  Psalms  lx.,  4. 

"  As  at  the  early  dawn  the  stars  shine  forth  even  while  it  grows  light,  and  then 
as  the  sun  advances  that  light  breaks  into  banks  and  streaming  lines  of  color,  the 
glowing  red  and  intense  white  striving  together  and  ribbing  the  horizon  with  bars 
effulgent.  So  on  the  American  flag,  stars  and  beams  of  many  colored  light  shine 
out  together.  And  where  this  flag  comes,  and  men  behold  it,  they  see  in  its  sacred 
emblazonry  no  ramping  lions,  and  no  fierce  eagle  ;  no  embattled  castles,  or  insignia  of 
imperial  authority ;  they  see  the  symbols  of  light.  It  is  the  banner  of  dawn.  It 
means  Liberty  /  and  the  galley  slave,  the  poor  oppressed  conscript,  the  down  trodden 
creature  of  foreign  despotism,  sees  in  the  American  flag  that  very  promise  and  pre- 
diction of  God  :  *  The  people  which  sat  in  darkness  saw  a  great  light  j  and  to  them 
which  sat  in  the  region  and  shadow  of  death  light  is  sprung  up.' 

"In  1777,  within  a  few  days  of  one  year  after  the  declaration  of  independence  the 
congress  of  the  colonies  in  the  confederated  states  assembled  and  ordained  this  glorious 
national  flag  which  we  now  hold  and  defend,  and  advanced  it  full  high  before  God 
and  all  men,  as  the  flag  of  liberty. 

"  It  was  no  holiday  flag  gorgeously  emblazoned  for  gayety  or  vanity.  It  was  a 
solemn  national  signal.  When  that  banner  first  unrolled  to  the  sun,  it  was  the  sym- 
bol of  all  those  holy  truths  and  purposes  which  brought  together  the  colonial  Ameri- 
can Congress  !  *  *  Our  flag  means,  then,  all  that  our  fathers  meant  in  the  revo- 
lutionary war  ;  it  means  all  that  the  declaration  of  independence  meant ;  it  means 
all  that  the  constitution  of  our  people,  organizing  for  justice,  for  liberty  and  for  hap- 
piness meant.  Our  flag  carries  American  ideas,  American  history,  and  American 
feelings.  Beginning  with  the  colonies  and  coming  down  to  our  time,  in  its  sacred 
heraldry,  in  its  glorious  insignia,  it  has  gathered  and  stored  chiefly  this  supreme 
idea  :  Divine  right  of  liberty  in  man  —  Every  color  means  liberty  j  every  thread 
means  liberty ;  every  form  of  star  and  beam  or  stripe  of  light  means  liberty :  Not 
lawlessness,  not  license  j  but  organized  institutional  liberty, — liberty  through  law,  and 
laws  for  liberty ! 

"  Accept  it,  then,  in  all  its  fullness  of  meaning.  It  is  not  a  painted  rag.  It  is  a 
whole  national  history.  It  is  the  constitution.  It  is  the  government.  It  is  the 
free  people  that  stand  in  the  government  on  the  constitution.  Forget  not  what  it 
means ;  and  for  the  sake  of  its  ideas,  be  true  to  your  country's  flag." —  Henry  Ward 
Beecher's  Address  to  two  Companies  of  the  Brooklyn  XIV  Regt.t  1861. 


PART    III. 


THE  STARS  AND  STRIPES 

1777-1783. 

The  earliest  and  only  suggestion  of  the  stars  as  a  device  for 
the,  American  ensign  prior  to  their  adoption  in  1777,  I  have 
been  able  to  find,  is  contained  in  the  Massachusetts  Spy  for 
March  10,  1774,  in  a  song  written  for  the  anniversary  of  the 
Boston  Massacre  (March  5).  In  a  flight  of  poetic  fancy,  the  writer 
foretells  the  future  triumph  of  the  American  ensign  thus : 

"  A  ray  of  bright  glory  now  beams  from  afar 
The  American  Ensign  now  sparkles  a  star 
Which  shall  shortly  flame  wide  through  the  skies." 

The  supposed  earliest  instance  of  the  thirteen  stripes  being 
used  upon  an  American  banner  is  found  upon  a  standard  said 
to  have  been  presented  to  the  Philadelphia  troop  of  Light 
Horse  in  1774-75,  by  Capt.  Abraham  Markoe,  and  still  in  the 
possession  of  that  troop,  and  displayed  at  its  anniversary  dinners.1 
As  Gen.  Washington,  when  en  route  to  take  command  of  the 
army  at  Cambridge  accompanied  by  Generals  Lee  and  Schuy- 
ler,  was  escorted  by  this  troop  of  light  horse  from  Philadel- 
phia, June  21,  1775,  to  New  York,2  he  was  doubtless  familiar 
with  the  sight  of  this  standard,  and  it  is  possible  that  it  may 

i  I  am  indebted  to  my  kind  and  indefatigable  correspondent,  John  A.  McAllister, 
Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  in  a  letter  dated  Oct.  26,  1871,  for  my  first  knowledge  of  this 
standard,  which  has  altogether  escaped  the  notice  of  previous  hfstorians  of  our  flag. 

*Sparkss  Life  of  Washington,  p.  143,  also  Bancrofts  History  United  States.  "  On  the 
23d  of  June,  the  day  after  congress  had  heard  the  first  rumors  of  the  battle  at 
Charlestown,  Washington  was  escorted  out  of  Philadelphia  by  the  Massachusetts 
delegates  and  many  others  with  music,  officers  of  militia  and  a  cavalcade  of  light 
horse  in  uniform.  On  Sunday,  the  25th,  all  New  York  was  in  motion.  Washing- 
ton, accompanied  by  Lee  and  Schuyler  under  escort  of  the  Philadelphia  Light  Horse, 
was  known  to  have  reached  Newark.  On  the  news  that  he  was  to  cross  the  Hudson, 
bells  were  rung,  the  militia  paraded  in  their  gayest  trim,  and  at  4  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  the  commander-in-chief,  dressed  in  a  uniform  of  blue,  was  received  at  Lis- 
penard's  by  the  mass  of  inhabitants.  Drawn  in  an  open  carriage  by  a  pair  of  white 
horses,  he  was  escorted  into  the  city  by  nine  companies  of  infantry,  while  multitudes 
of  all  ages  bent  their  eyes  on  him  from  house  tops,  the  windows  and  the  streets. 


182  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

have  suggested  to  him  the  striped  union  flag  he  raised  at 
Cambridge  six  months  later. 

The  first  continental  congress  assembled  at  Philadelphia, 
Sept.,  1774,  and  on  the  I7th  of  November  following,  twenty- 
eight  gentlemen  of  the  highest  respectability  and  fortunes  vo- 
luntarily associated,  and  constituted  themselves  the  Philadelphia 
troop  of  light  horse,  and  elected  Abraham  Markoe  captain. 
The  uniform  they  adopted  was  a-  dark  brown  short  coat,  faced 
and  lined  with  white  ;  high  topped  boots  ;  round  black  hat,  bound 
with  silver  cord  ;  a  buck's  tail,  housings  brown  edged  with  white, 
and  the  letters  L.  H.,  worked  on  them.  Their  arms  were  a 
carbine  ;  a  pair  of  pistols  and  holsters  ;  a  horseman's  sword  ; 
white  belts  for  the  sword  and  carbine.  Such  was  the  appearance 
of  this  troop  when  it  accompanied  Gen.  Washington  to  New 
York,  and  afterward  fought  under  its  standard  at  Trenton  and 
Princeton. 

Capt.  Markoe  resigned  his  commission  in  1775,  in  conse- 
quence of  an  edict  of  the  king  of  Denmark,  which  forbade  his 
subjects  to  engage  in  the  war  against  Great  Britain,  under  penalty 
of  confiscation  of  their  property,1  and  if  he  presented  this 
standard  to  the  troop  before  his  resignation,  and  it  was  their 
first  standard,  this  would  fix  the  date  of  its  manufacture  between 
1774  and  '5,  and  prior  to  the  union  flag  raising  at  Cambridge. 
For  this  reason  this  flag  is  considered  a  relic  of  priceless  value 
by  the  troop  to  which  it  belongs. 

For  the  following  accurate  and  minute  description  of  this  in- 
teresting revolutionary  relic  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Charles  J. 
Lukens,  of  Philadelphia  : 2 

"The  flag  of  the  Light  Horse  of  Philadelphia  is  forty  inches 
long  and  thirty-four  inches  broad.  Its  canton  is  twelve  and  one- 

That  night  the  royal  governor,  Tryon,  landed  without  any  such  popular  parade." — 
Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States. 

Nov.  21,  1775,  Lady  Washington  was  escorted  from  Schuylkill  ferry  into  the 
city  by  the  light  horse,  &c. 

Nov.  27,  1775,  Lady  Washington  attended  by  a  troop  of  horse,  two  companies  of 
light  infantry,  &c.,  left  Philadelphia  on  her  journey  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge. — 
Passages  from  the  Diary  of  Christopher  Marshall,  vol.  I,  1774-77,  edited  by  Wm. 
Duanc,  pub.  Phila.,  1839. 

1  By-laius,    Muster   Roll  and  Papers   of  the    First  Troop   of  the  Philadelphia   City 
Cavalry,  Philadelphia,  Jas.  B.  Smith  and  Co.,  1856. 

2  Letters  of  C.  J.  Lukens  to  G.  H.  P.,  dated  Nov.  6,  1871,  March  21,  1872,  etc. 
Mr.  Lukens  says    the  first  troop  have   always  prized  their  standard  very  highly,  but 
never  suspected  its  value  in  the  history  of  the  stars  and  stripes  until  informed  by  him. 


HILADELPHIA  uiHT 


BY 

GAPr-  ABRAHAM 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  183 

half  inches  long  and  nine  and  one-half  inches  wide.  The 
armorial  achievement  in  its  centre  occupies  the  proportional  space 
shown  in  the  drawing ;  both  sides  of  the  flag  exhibit  the  same 
attributes.  The  left  side  shows  everything  as  if  the  material 
were  transparent,  giving  the  right  side  entirely  in  reverse,  except 
the  cyphers  L.  H.,  and  the  motto  :  c  For  these  we  strive.'  The 
cyphers,  the  running  vine  on  both  sides,  the  cord  and  tassels, 
and  the  fringe  are  of  silver  bullion  twist.  The  spgarjiead  and 
the  upper  ferrule,  taken  together  eight  inches  in  length,  are  of 
solid  silver.  The  staff  is  of  dark  wood,  in  three  carefully  ferruled 
divisions  screwing  together.  Ten  screw  rings  at  irregular  intervals 
from  two  and  one-half  to  three  and  three-fourths  inches,  are  used 
to  attach  the  flag  to  the  stafF  by  means  of  a  cord  laced  through 
corresponding  eyelets  in  the  flag. 

"  The  flag  is  formed  of  two  sides  very  strongly  hemmed  to- 
gether along  the  edges,  each  side  being  of  two  equal  pieces 
attached  together  by  means  of  a  horizontal  seam,  the  material  of 
the  flag  being  a  light  bright  yellow  silk,  and  apparently  the  same 
tint  as  that  of  the  present  artillery  flag  of  the  United  States.  The 
canton  of  the  flag  is  '  Barry  of  thirteen  azure  and  argent.'*  The 
azure  being  deep  ultra  marine,  the  argent  silver  leaf.  The 

achievement  in  the  centre  of  the 
flag  is  :  Azure,  a  round  knot  of 
three  interlacings,  with  thirteen 
divergent,  wavy,  bellied  double 
foliated  ends  or,  whereof  two  ends 
are  in  chief,  and  one  in  base  as  per 
margin.  The  scrolled  edging  of 
the  shield  is  gold,  with  outer  and 
inner  rims  of  silver. 

"Crest,  [without  a  wreath]  a 
horse's  head  bay,  with  a  white  star 
on  the  forehead,  erased  at  the  shoulders,  maned  sable,  bitted 
and  resetted  or,  and  bridled  azure.  Over  the  head  of  the 
charger  is  the  monogram  L.  H.2 


1  Mr.  C.  C.  Haven  read  a  paper  before  the  New  Jersey  Hist.  Soc.,  January,  1872, 
in  which  he  stated  that  Capt.  Barry  was  presented  with  a  flag  in  1779,  which  had 
twelve  stars  and  stripes  only  on  an  azure  field.  The  record  of  the  presentation  of 
this  flag,  he  had  seen. 

3  For  Light  Horse,  though  a  former  member   of  the  troop  suggests  these  letters 


184  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

"  Beneath  the  shield,  the  motto  c  For  these  we  strive,' *  in  black 
Roman  capitals  of  the  Elizabethan  style,  on  a  floating  silver 
scroll,  upon  the  upcurled  ends  of  which  stand  the  supporters, 
DEXTER,  a  Continental  masquerading  as  an  American  Indian 
(probably  of  the  Boston  tea  party,  Dec.  16,  1773),  with  a  bow  or, 
the  loosened  string  blue  floating  on  the  wind,  in  his  left  hand, 
and  in  his  right,  a  gold  rod  upholding  a  liberty  cap,2  with  tassel 
azure,  the  lining  stiver,  head  dress  and  kilt  (or  ga-ka-ah) 
of  feathers,  the  former  of  five  alternately  of  dark  red,  and 
gold,  with  fillet  of  crimson.  The  latter  of  seven  alternately  of 
gold  and  of  dark  red.  (This  may  be  of  eight,  and  then  it  would 
be  5-j-8=i3,  alternately  of  dark  red,  and  of  gold,  as  the  gold 
at  least  occupies  the  extreme  natural  right  of  the  kilt.  The 
uncertainty  arises  from  age,  and  the  fact  that  the  dependant 
ends  of  a  crimson  shoulder  sash  or  scarf  worn  from  left  to  right 
with  knot  at  the  waist  bound  the  left  edge  of  the  kilt,  which 
itself  is  supported  by  a  narrow  girdle,  with  pendant  loops  of  gold, 
and  the  looped  spaces  red.  The  quiver  is  of  gold  supported  over 
the  right  shoulder  by  a  blue  strap  :  its  arrows  are  proper.  A  con- 
tinental officer's  crescent,  gold,  suspended  around  the  neck  by  a 
blue  string,  rests  just  where  the  clavicles  meet  the  sternum. 
The  mocassins  are  buff  with  feather  tops,  I  think  alternated 
dark  red,  and  gold.  The  Indian  has  deep  black  hair,  but  his 
skin  is  intermediate  between  the  Caucasian  and  the  aboriginal 
hues,  rather  inclining  to  the  former,  and  his  cheek  is  decidedly 
ruddy,  almost  rosy.  He  approaches  the  shield  in  profile  as  does 
also  the  SINISTER  SUPPORTER  which  represents  an  angel  of  florid 
tint,  roseate  cheek,  with  auburn  curly  hair,  and  blue  eyes,  blow- 


are  the  monogram  of  Levi  Hollingsworth  who  was  quarter  master  of  the  troop  at  the 
battle  of  Trenton. 

1  Evidently  referring  to  fame  and  liberty  represented  by  the  supporters. — G.  H.  P. 

8  Many  persons  entertain  the  belief  that  the  liberty  cap  was  first  used  in  modern 
times  as  an  emblem  of  freedom  by  the  French  during  the  Revolution  of  1790.  That 
this  was  not  the  case  is  proved  by  its  being  one  of  the  devices  on  the  flag  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Light  Horse,  and  also  by  the  following  resolve  of  the  committee  ofsafety  of 
Philadelphia,  of  about  the  same  date,  viz.  : 

Philadelphia,  August  $ist,  1775.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
held  this  day,  Resolved,  That  Owen  Biddle  provide  a  seal  for  the  use  of  the  board, 
about  the  size  of  a  dollar,  with  a  cap  of  liberty  with  this  motto.  "  This  is  my  right 
and  I  tuill  defend  it  " 

The  liberty  cap  is  of  Phrygian  origin,  and  belongs  to  classical  times.  It  was 
anciently  given  to  freedmen  as  a  token  of  manumission  from  bondage.  The  Saxons 
of  England  used  it  as  their  ordinary  head  dress,  but  without  the  meaning  we  attach 
to  it.  It  was  on  American  coins  in  1783. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  185 

ing  a  golden  trumpet,  with  his  right  hand,  and  holding  in  his 
left  a  gold  rod.  His  wings  are  a  light  blueish  gray  with  changeable 
flashes  of  silver.  His  flowing  robe  from  the  right  shoulder  to 
the  left  flank  is  purple.  These  supporters  not  being  heraldic 
in  position  and  motion  for  human  or  angelic  figures,  their  left 
and  right  action  have  the  natural  and  not  heraldic  significations. 

"  This  flag  is  in  admirable  condition  considering  that  nearly 
one  hundred  years  have  elapsed  since  it  was  made.  The 
whole  is  a  model  of  good  taste  and  judgment,  and  evidences 
that  Captain  Markoe  spared  no  expense." 

It  is  to  be  regretted,  the  precise  date  of  the  presentation 
of  this  banner,  and  the  origin  of  its  devices  cannot  be  ascer- 
tained. It  seems  remarkable  an  event  so  important  is  not 
found  chronicled  in  the  Philadelphia  papers  of  the  time.1 

A  lithograph  of  this  flag,  giving  a  fair  general  idea  of  its  appear- 
ance, was  published  in  the  Military  Magazine,  printed  by  Wm. 
Huddy  in  Philadelphia,  in  1839.  The  picture  is  accompanied 
by  the  following  lines  written  by  Andrew  McMakin  which  are 
dedicated  to  it : 

FAME  AND  LIBERTY. 

"  No  trophy  doth 'the  earth  conceal 

To  Freeman's  soul  more  truly  dear, 
No  conquest  of  the  ensanguined  steel 

A  Freeman's   heart  like  this  can  cheer  : 
'For  these  we  strive?  each  burnished  sword 

With  ardor  struggles  to  be  free, 
And  in  the  foremost  ranks  would  guard 

Our  spotless  FAME  AND  LIBERTY! 


1  Some  twenty  years  ago,  the  Germantoiun  Telegraph  published  a  communication 
which  stated  that  the  old  flag  belonging  to  the  first  troop  of  Philadelphia  county 
cavalry,  was  somewhere  in  existence,  and  it  was  very  desirable  it  should  be  recovered. 
The  editor  adds  :  "  It  was  painted  in  1774,  at  the  organization  of  the  corps,  and  it 
is  believed  to  be  the  only  relic  now  extant  of  the  first  flag  adopted  by  the  colonies  j 
it  is  designed  to  place  it  in  the  Philadelphia  Museum  for  preservation.  Any  person 
who  will  deliver  it  at  this  office,  or  leave  information  where  it  can  be  obtained  will 
receive  the  thanks  of  every  citizen  anxious  that  this  patriotic  relic  should  be  rescued 
from  oblivion." 

A  correspondent  of  the  Philadelphia  Sunday  Dispatch  says  :  "  We  can  say  without 
any  hesitation  that  the  newspapers  of  1774,  contain  nothing  about  the  presentation 
of  this  flag,  nor  about  the  formation  of  the  troop  of  Light  Horse."  I  have  myself 
searched  files  of  newspapers  of  1774  and  '5,  without  finding  any  mention  of  the 
presentation. 

24 


186  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Unfold  the  banner  to  the  light 

And  let  its  blazonry  appear, 
Unmarr'd  by  black  oppression's  night, 

Unshaken  still  by  craven  fear ; 
'  For  these  we  strive '  —  a  potent  charm 

To  conjure  forth  the  brave  and  free, 
To  warm  the  heart  and  nerve  the  arm 

That  strikes  for  FAME  and  LIBERTY  ! 

'  For  these  we  strive  /  what  brighter  name 

Can  man  achieve  or  beauty  see, 
Than  WORTH  to  share  his  country's  FAME, 

Or  PERISH  for  her  liberty  ! 
Behold  its  gleam  along  the  sky, 

A  seal  of  hope,  a  promise  given 
That'neath  its  folds  who  justly  die, 

Shall  win  a  recompense  in  Heaven/' 

On  the  semicentennial  anniversary  of  the  troop,  Nov.  17, 
1824,  this  banner  was  displayed  ;  when  David  Paul  Brown  being 
called  upon  for  a  toast  gave  impromptu : 

OUR  BANNER  ! 

"  For  fifty  years  at  fray  or  feast 
O'er  deadly  foe  or  gentle  guest 

Triumphantly  unfurled  ! 
And  FIFTY  more,  our  flag  shall  wave 
In  memory  of  the  Good  and  Brave 

Who  dignified  the  world  ; 
And  tyranny  and  time  defy 
In  freedom's  immortality." 

Mr.  Lukens  considers  this  flag  to  bear  intrinsic  evidence 
of  having  existed  before  the  invention  of  the  star  spangled 
banner  u  because  it  has  no  stars  save  a  white  star  in  the  fore- 
head of  the  horse-head  used  as  a  crest,  it  also  symbolizes  the 
thirteen  colonies  by  a  golden  knot  of  thirteen  divergent  wavy, 
floating,  foliated  ends  upon  a  blue  shield  ;  and  although  this  in 
itself  is  a  very  beautiful  type  of  the  United  Colonies,  it  never 
would  have  been  selected  for  the  purpose  by  any  body  after  the 
invention  of  the  thirteen  stars  on  blue,  equivalent  to  thirteen 
stars  in  the  heavens ;  because  the  latter,  as  a  far  higher  and 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  187 

more  significant  symbol,  would  instantly    have  swayed    every 
heart  in  its  favor."1 

The  Pennsylvania  Magazine,  vol.  I,  1775,  has  for  its  fronti- 
spiece two  flags  crossed,  engraved  by  Aitken,  one  of  which  is 
blazoned  with  the  thirteen  stripes,  but  has  no  stars.  The  same 
magazine  has  what  purports  to  be  "  a  correct  view  of  the  battle 
at  Charlestown  June  17,  1775,"  in  which  the  British  flag  is 
plainly  to  be  seen,  but  no  other  flag  is  visible. 

On  Saturday,  the  I4th  of  June,  1777,  the  American  congress 
"  RESOLVED,  That  the  flag  of  the  thirteen  United  States  be  thir- 
teen stripes  alternate  red  and  white  :  that  the  union  be  thirteen 
stars,  white  in  a  blue  field,  representing  a  new  constellation" 2 
This  is  the  first  and  only  legislative  action,  of  which  there  is  any 
record  for  the  establishment  of  a  National  Flag  for  the  sovereign 
United  States  of  America,  declared  independent  July  4,  1776, 
and  proclaims  the  official  birth  of  a  new  constellation  as  the  symbol 
of  their  union.  This  resolve  was  not  officially  promulgated 
over  the  signature  of  the  secretary  of  congress  at  Philadelphia 
until  Sept.  3d,  and  at  other  places  still  later,  though  it  was  printed 
in  the  papers  a  month  earlier.  An  officer  of  the  American  army 
records  in  his  Diary  under  the  date  August  3d,  1777:  "It 
appears  by  the  papers  that  congress  resolved  on  the  I4th  of  June 
last,  that  the  flag  of  the  thirteen  United  States  be  thirteen 
stripes  alternate  red  and  white,  that  the  union  be  thirteen  stars 
white  on  a  blue  field,  &c."3  This  dilatory  resolve  of  congress, 
it  will  be  observed,  was  not  passed  until  eighteen  months  after 
the  union  flag  raising  at  Cambridge,  and  the  sailing  of  the  first 
American  fleet  from  Philadelphia  under  Continental  colors. 
Nearly  a  year  after  the  declaration  of  the  entire  separation  of 
the  colonies  from  Great  Britain,  and  another  two  and  a  half 
months  elapsed  before  it  was  promulgated  officially.  There 
was  red  tape  in  those  early  days  as  well  as  now.  No  re- 
cord of  the  discussions  which  undoubtedly  preceded  the  adoption 
of  the  stars  and  stripes  has  been  preserved,  and  we  do  not  know 


1  Report  of  Mr.  Lukens's  lecture  on   the  Heraldry  of  the  American  Flag,  in  the 
Sunday  Dispatch. 

2  Journals    of    Congress,  1823    ed.,    i,    165;    Arnold's  History  of  Rhode   Island; 
Hamilton^  History  of  the  U.  S.    Flag  ;   Sarmiento^s  History  of  our  Flag  ;   Boston   Ga- 
zette, Sept.  15,    1777,  etc. 

3  Military  Journal  during  the  American  Revolutionary  W 'ar  from  1775  to  1783  by 
James  Thatcher,  M.D.,  late  Surgeon  in  the  Amenia. 


188  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  their  beautiful  and  soul-inspiring 
devices.  There  are  many  theories  as  to  their  origin,  but 
although  less  than  a  century  has  elapsed  since  their  adoption, 
none  which  are  entirely  satisfactory. 

The  stripes,  as  we  have  already  stated,  are  by  some  supposed 
to  have  been  borrowed  from  the  Dutch  or  from  the  designating 
stripes  on  the  coats  of  the  continental  soldiers.  Both  stars  and 
stripes,  others  have  considered,  were  suggested  by  the  arms  of 
Washington,  which,  by  a  singular  coincidence,  contain  both. 
The  arms  of  William,  Lord  Douglas,  also  bear  on  a  silver  shield 
a  chief  azure,  charged  with  three  mullets  (five-pointed  stars) 
silver. 

Had  any  banner  been  blazoned  with  th.e  coat  armor  of 
Washington,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  he  would  have  chosen  its 
devices  for  the  banner  of  his  own  life  guard,  but  that  as  can  be 
seen  by  our  illustration  on  page  18  has  no  such  device. 

A  British  antiquarian x  supports  the  idea  that  Washington's 
arms  furnished  the  device  for  "  our  flag  "  in  this  wise : 

"  Like  Oliver  Cromwell,  the  American  patriot  was  fond  of 
genealogy,  and  corresponded  with  our  heralds  on  the  subject 
of  his  own  pedigree.  Yes  !  that  George  Washington,  who 
gave  sanction  if  not  birth  to  that  most  democratical  of  all  senti- 
ments, *  that  all  men  are  free  and  equal  '2  was,  as  the  phrase 
goes,  a  gentleman  of  blood,  of  ancient  time,  and  coat  armor,  nor 
was  he  slow  to  acknowledge  the  fact.3  When  the  Americans 
in  their  most  righteous  revolt  against  the  tyranny  of  the  mother 
country  cast  about  for  an  ensign  with  which  to  distinguish 
themselves  from  their  English  oppressors  —  what  did  they 
ultimately  adopt  ?  Why  !  Nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  gen- 
tleman's badge,  a  modification  of  the  old  English  coat  of  arms 

1  Lowes. 

2  Does  he    not  give  to   Washington  credit  that  is   due  to   Jefferson,  who  wrote  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  in  which  all  men  are    declared  to  be  created  equal  ? 
Or  to  Mason,  of  Virginia  :     "  That  all  men  are  created  equally  free  and  independent," 
the  commencing  words  of  the  declaration  of  rights  written  by  the  Hon.  Geo.  Mason  of 
Virginia,  May,  1776,  on  a  copy  of  which  he  endorsed  :     "  The  first  declaration  of  the 
kind  in  America  ?  "     The  whole  document  can  be  found  in  Ni/es^s  American  Revolution. 

3  Washington,  in  a  letter  to  Sir  Isaac  Heard,  dated   Philadelphia,  May   2,   1792, 
says  in  answer  to  his  queries  about  the  genealogy,  etc.,  of  the  Washington  family, 
"  This  is   a  subject  to  which  I   confess  I   have  paid  very  little   attention."     "The 
arms  inclosed  in  your  letter  are  the  same  that  are  held  by  the  family  here,  etc." 

Mrs.  Lewis,  of  Woodlawn,  Va.,  has  the  little  robe  in  which  Washington  was  bap- 
tized. It  is  made  of  'white  silk  lined  with  red  (crimson)  silk,  and  trimmed  with 
blue  ribbon,  our  national  colors,  red,  white,  blue. — Lossing's  Hist.  Record,  March,  1872. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  189 

borne  by  their  leader  and  deliverer.  A  few  stars  had,  in  the 
old  chivalrous  times,  distinguished  his  ancestors  from  their 
compeers  in  the  tournament,  and  upon  the  battle-field  ;  more 
stars  and  additional  stripes,  denoting  the  number  of  states  that 
joined  in  the  struggle  now  became  the  standard  around  which 
the  patriots  of  the  west  so  successfully  rallied.  It  is  not  a  lit- 
tle curious  that  the  poor  worn-out  ray  of  feudalism,  as  so  many 
would  count  it,  should  have  expanded  into  the  bright  and  am- 
ple banner  that  now  waves  from  every  sea." 

The  assumption  of  this  writer  finds  denial  in  the  fact,  that 
Washington  has  not  in  any  of  his  correspondence  or  writings 
mentioned  any  connection  of  his  arms  with  our  flag,  as  he  would 
have  been  most  likely  to  have  done  had  there  been  any,  for  he 
would  certainly  have  been  proud  of  the  connection  ;  neither  is 
there  any  allusion  to  the  subject  in  the  published  correspond- 
ence of  his  contemporaries.1 

A  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Inquirer  a  few  years  since 
beautifully  said  :  "  Every  nation  has  its  symbolic  ensign,  some 
have  beasts,  some  birds,  some  fishes,  some  reptiles  in  their  ban- 
ners. Our  fathers  chose  the  stars  and  stripes,  the  red  telling 
of  the  blood  shed  by  them  for  their  country,  the  blue  of  the 
heavens  and  their  protection,  and  the  stars  of  the  separate  states 
embodied  in  one  nationality,  '  E  PluribuS  Unum.' " * 

Alfred  B.  Street,  in  a  paper  on  the  Battle  of  Saratoga,  alludes 
to  our  flag  as  first  victoriously  unfurled  at  the  surrender  of  Bur- 
goyne,  and  says  : 

"  The  stars  of  the  new  flag  represent  a  constellation  of  states 
rising  in  the  west.  The  idea  was  taken  from  the  constellation 
Lyra,  which  in  the  hands  of  Orpheus  signified  harmony.  The 
blue  of  the  field  was  taken  from  the  edges  of  the  Covenanter's 
banner  in  Scotland,  significant  also  of  the  league  and  covenant  of 
the  United  Colonies  against  oppression,  incidentally  involving  the 

1  Mr.  Haven  in  his  paper  before  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society,  favors  the 
supposition  that  in  some  way  the  devices  for  our  flag  were  taken  from  the  arms  of  the 
Washington  family,  and  were  used  in  the  war  out  of  respect  to  the  commander-in-chief. 
He  thinks  the  stars  on  the  Washington  shield  may  be  of  Roman  origin.  "Virgil 
speaks  of  returning  to  the  stars,  redire  adastra,  implying  a  home  of  peace  and  happiness  ,• 
and  we  know  the  Romans  worshipped  the  stars  which  bore  the  name  of  their  gods. 
They  also  used  scourges  producing  stripes  on  the  bodies  of  those  they  punished."  From 
these  symbolic  antecedents  then  we  may,  he  says,  "  derive  our  star-bearing  banner, 
the  heaven-sent  ensign  of  our  union,  freedom  and  independence,  the  stripes  only  to 
be  used  as  a  scourge  to  our  enemies,"  etc. 


190  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

virtues  of  vigilance,  perseverance  and  justice.  The  stars  were 
disposed  in  a  circle,  symbolizing  the  perpetuity  of  the  union, 
the  ring  like  the  circling  serpent  of  the  Egyptians  signifying 
eternity.  The  thirteen  stripes  showed  with  the  stars  the  number 
of  the  United  Colonies,  and  denoted  the  subordination  of  the  states 
to  the  union,  as  well  as  equality  among  themselves.  The  whole 
was  a  blending  of  -the  various  flags,  previous  to  the  union  flag, 
namely,  the  red  flag  of  the  army  and  the  white  ones  of  the 
floating  batteries.  The  red  color,  which  in  Roman  days  was 
the  signal  of  defiance,1  denotes  daring  and  the  white  purity." 

"  What  eloquence  do  the  stars  breathe  when  their  full  signifi- 
cance is  known  :  a  new  constellation,  union  ;  perpetuity  ;  a  co- 
venant against  oppression  ;  justice,  equality,  subordination,  cou- 
rage and  purity." 

I  have  been  unable  to  find  that  his  poetic  and  somewhat 
fanciful  description  is  supported  by  any  contemporaneous  proof, 
or  that  it  was  ever  required  the  stars  should  be  arranged  in  a 
circle,  though  in  Trumbull's  painting  of  the  Surrender  of  Bur- 
goyne,  and  Peale's  portrait  of  Washington,  the  stars  are  so  arranged 
by  the  artists.  The  resolution  of  June  14,  1777,  says  nothing 
about  their  arrangement  in  the  Union.  It  does  say,  however,  that 
they  represent  not  Lyra  or  any  other  known  heavenly  cluster  of 
stars,  but  a  new  constellation.  The  idea  that  the  new  constellation 
was  a  representation  of  Lyra  is  advocated  by  a  variety  of  evidence 
in  Schuyler  Hamilton's  History  of  the  Flag,  but  I  cannot  deem  it 
conclusive.  The  constellation  of  Lyra  is  the  symbol  of  har- 
mony and  unity,  and  consists  of  the  requisite  number  of  original 
stars,  but  to  represent  it  in  the  union  of  a  flag  would  be  difficult  and 
objectionable.  When  John  Quincy  Adams  (whose  father,  John 
Adams,  is  said  to  have  proposed  Lyra  as  the  emblem  of  union) 
was  secretary  of  state  in  1820,  he  gave  color  to  the  idea  by  re- 
moving the  United  States  arms  from  the  United  States  pass- 
ports, and  substituting  for  them  an  engraving  of  a  circle  of 
thirteen  stars,  surrounding  an  eagle  holding  in  his  beak  the  con- 
stellation Lyra,  and  the  motto,  Nunc  sidera  ducit. 

Undoubtedly  our  revolutionary  fathers  at  the  outset  when 
devising  a  national  flag,  met  with  difficulty  in  finding  a  device, 
at  once  simple,  tasteful,  inspiriting  and  easily  manufactured. 


1  Admiral  Farragut  unwittingly  used  the  old  Roman  signal,  when  he  designated 
two  red  lights  as  a  signal  for  battle  previous  to  passing  the  forts  below  New  Orleans. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  191 

The  number  of  states  whose  unity  was  to  be  symbolized  was 
a  stumbling  block.  The  stripes  already  represented  them  — 
but  what  could  be  found  to  replace  the  crosses  emblematic  of 
the  union  of  the  kingdoms  of  Scotland  and  England,  whose 
authority  they  had  renounced  forever  ?  The  rattlesnake  which 
for  a  time  liad  been  used,  as  a  symbol  of  the  necessity  of 
union  and  defiance  rather  than  of  union  itself,  was  repulsive  to 
many  from  its  being  kin  to  the  tempter  of  our  first  parents,  the 
cause  of  their  expulsion  from  Paradise,  and  bearing  also  the 
curse  of  the  Almighty. 

A  mailed  hand  grasping  a  bundle  of  thirteen  arrows  had  been  a 
device  for  privateers,  but  rather  than  of  union,  that  was  a  symbol 
of  war  and  defiance.  A  round  knot  with  thirteen  floating  ends  was 
the  beautiful  device  significant  of  strength  in  union,  of  the  standard 
of  the  Philadelphia  Light  Horse.  A  checkered  union  of  thirteen 
blue  and  white  or  blue  and  red  squares,  might  have  answered, 
but  the  odd  number  of  the  colonies  prevented  that  or  any  similar 
device.  Thirteen  terrestrial  objects,  such  as  eagles,  bears,  trees, 
&c.,  would  have  been  absurd,  and  equally  so  would  have  been 
thirteen  suns  or  moons,  besides  the  crescent  was  the  chosen  em- 
blem of  Mahommedanism  and  therefore  unfitted  to  represent  a 
Christian  people.  Thirteen  crosses  would  have  shocked  the 
sentiments  of  a  large  portion  of  the  people,  who  looked  upon 
the  cross  as  an  emblem  of  popish  idolatry.  There  remained 
then  nothing  but  the  stars,  and  the  creation  of  a  new  constellation 
to  represent  the  birth  of  our  rising  republic.1  No  other  object, 
heavenly  or  terrestrial,  could  have  been  more  appropriate.  They 
were  of  like  form  and  size,  typifying  the  similarity  of  the  seve- 
ral states,  and,  grouped  in  a  constellation,  represented  their  unity. 

1  An  English  writer  in  the  following  jeu  tf 'esprit,  a  few  years  later,  thus  ridicules 
the  fondness  of  the  American  colonists  for  the  number  thirteen  : 

"  Thirteen  is  a  number  peculiarly  belonging  to  the  rebels.  A  party  of  naval 
prisoners  lately  returned  from  Jersey,  say  that  the  rations  among  the  rebels  are 
thirteen  dried  clams  per  day  5  that  the  titular  Lord  Stirling  takes  thirteen  glasses  of 
grog  every  morning,  has  thirteen  enormous  rum  bunches  on  his  nose,  and  that  (when 
duly  impregnated)  he  always  makes  thirteen  attempts  before  he  can  walk}  that  Mr. 
Washington  has  thirteen  toes  to  his  feet  (the  extra  ones  having  grown  since 
the  declaration  of  independence)  and  the  same  number  of  teeth  in  each  jaw  j 
that  the  Sachem  Schuyler  has  a  topknot  of  thirteen  stiff  hairs  which  erect  them- 
selves on  the  crown  of  his  head  when  he  grows  mad  5  that  old  Putnam  had  thirteen 
pounds  of  his  posterior  bit  off  in  an  encounter  with  a  Connecticut  bear  ('twas  then 
he  lost  the  balance  of  his  mind)  that  it  takes  thirteen  congress  paper  dollars  to  equal 
one  penny  sterling  ;  that  Polly  Wayne  was  just  thirteen  hours  in  subduing  Stony  Point, 


192  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

It  will  probably  never  be  clearly  known  who  designed  our 
union  of  stars.  The  records  of  congress  are  silent  upon  the 
subject,  and  I  have  been  unable  to  find  mention  of  it  in  any  of 
the  voluminous  correspondence  or  diaries  of  the  time,  public  or 
private,  which  has  been  published. 

It  has  been  asked  why  the  stars  on  our  banner  are  five-pointed, 
while  those  on  our  coins  are  six-pointed,  the  answer  is  that  the 
designer  of  our  coins  followed  the  English,  and  the  designer  of 
our  flag  the  French  custom.1  In  English  heraldic  language  the 
star  has  six  points ;  in  the  heraldry  of  Holland,  France  and 
Germany,  the  star  is  five-pointed. 

In  1870,  Mr.  Wm.  J.  Canby,  of  Philadelphia,  read  before 
the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania  a  paper  on  the  History  of 
the  American  Flag,  in  which  he  stated  that  his  maternal  grand- 
mother, Mrs.  John  Ross,2  was  the  first  maker  and  partial  de- 
signer of  the  stars  and  stripes.  The  house  where  this  first  flag  was 
made  is  still  standing,  No.  239  Arch  St.,  below  Third ;  it  is  a  little 
two-storied  and  attic  tenement  formerly  No.  89,  and  was  first 
occupied  by  Mrs.  Ross  after  the  death  of  her  first  husband. 

A  committee  of  congress,  of  whom  Col.  George  Ross  was 
one,  accompanied  by  General  Washington,  in  June,  1776,2 
called  upon  Mrs.  Ross,  who  was  an  upholsterer,  and  engaged 
her  to  make  the  flag  from  a  rough  drawing  which,  according  to 
her  suggestions,  was  redrawn  by  General  Washington  in  pencil 
"  then  and  there  in  her  back  parlor."  The  flag  as  thus  designed 
was  adopted  by  congress,  and  was  the  first  star  spangled  banner 
according  to  Mr.  Canby,  or  for  aught  that  is  known  to  the  con- 
trary which  ever  floated  on  the  breeze. 

and  as  many  seconds  in  leaving  it ;  that  a  well  organized  rebel  household  has  thirteen 
children,  all  of  whom  expect  to  be  generals  and  members  of  the  high  and  mighty 
congress  of  the  *  thirteen  united  states'  when  they  attain  thirteen  years  j  that  Mrs. 
Washington  has  a  mottled  torn  cat  (which  she  calls  in  a  complimentary  way  Hamil- 
ton) with  thirteen  yellow  rings  around  his  tail,  and  that  his  flaunting  it  suggested 
to  the  congress  the  adoption  of  the  same  number  of  stripes  for  the  rebel  flag." — Jour- 
nal of  Capt.  Smythc,  R.  A,,  Jan.,  1780. 

1  Editor  Historical  Magazine. 

8  Mrs.  Ross's  maiden  name  was  Griscom.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Ross,  she  married 
second,  Ashburn,  who  died  a  prisoner  of  war  in  Mill  Prison,  England  ;  and  tJkird,  John 
Claypole,  the  latter  a  lineal  descendant  of  Oliver  Cromwell.  Mrs.  Ross's  first  hus- 
band was  the  nephew  of  Col.  George  Ross,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  declaration  of 
independence. 

3  Washington  was  called  from  New  York  to  Philadelphia,  June,  1776,  to  advise 
with  congress  on  the  state  of  affairs  just  previous  to  the  declaration  of  independence, 
and  was  absent  from  New  York  fifteen  days. — Spartts's  Washington,  p.  177. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  193 

Mrs.  Ross  received  the  employment  of  flag-making  for  go- 
vernment, and  continued  in  it  for  many  years.  Three  of  Mrs. 
Ross's  daughters  were  living  when  Mr.  Canby  wrote  his  paper, 
and  confirm  its  statements,  founding  their  belief  not  upon  what 
they  themselves  saw — for  the  incident  occurred  many  years 
before  their  birth — but  upon  what  their  mother  had  told  them 
concerning  it.  A  niece,  Miss  Margaret  Boggs,  then  living  at 
Germantown,  aged  ninety-five,  was  also  cognizant  of  the  fact. 

It  is  related  by  them,  that  when  Col.  George  Ross  and  Gene- 
ral Washington  visited  Mrs.  Ross  and  asked  her  to  make  the 
flag,  she  said,  "I  don't  know  whether  I  can,  but  I'll  try;"  and 
directly  suggested  to  the  gentlemen  that  the  design  was  wrong 
in  that  the  stars  were,  six-cornered  and  not  five-cornered  [pointed] 
as  they  should  be.  This  was  corrected,  and  other  alterations  made. 

Mr.  Canby,  in  a  letter  to  me  on  the  subject,  dated  soon  after  the 
reading  of  his  paper  says  :x  "  It  is  not  tradition^  it  is  report  from 
the  lips  of  the  principal  participator  in  the  transaction,  directly  told 
not  to  one  or  two,  but  a  dozen  or  more  living  witnesses  of  whom 
I  myself  am  one,  though  but  a  little  boy  when  I  heard  it.  I  was 
eleven  years  old  when  Mrs.  Ross  died  in  our  house,  and  well  re- 
member her  telling  the  story.  My  mother  and  two  of  her  sisters 
are  living  and  in  good  memory.  I  have,  however,  the  narrative 
from  the  lips  of  the  oldest  one  of  my  aunts,  now  deceased,  re- 
duced to  writing  at  the  time  (1857).  This  aunt,  Mrs.  Clarissa 
Wilson,  a  widow,  succeeded  to  the  business  and  continued  mak- 
ing flags  for  the  navy  yard  and  arsenals  here  and  elsewhere,  and  for 
the  mercantile  marine  for  many  years  until  (being  conscien- 
tious on  the  subject  of  war)  she  gave  up  the  government  busi- 
ness, but  continued  the  mercantile  until  1857.  Washington 
was  a  frequent  visitor  at  my  grandmother's  house  before  receiv- 
ing his  command  of  the  army.  She  embroidered  his  shirt  ruffles, 
and  did  many  other  things  for  him.  He  knew  her  skill  with 
the  needle.  Col.  Ross  with  another  who  is  thought  to  be  Robt. 
Morris,2  and  Gen.  Washington  called  upon  Mrs.  Ross,  and  told 


1  Manuscript  letter  from  W.  J.  Canby,  March  29,  1870. 

3  In  a  letter  to  me  dated  Nov.  9,  1871,  Mr.  Canby  states  that  he  has  ascertained 
and  is  prepared  to  prove  that  the  third  gentleman  was  Robert  Morris.  He  says  also 
in  the  same  letter  he  is  prepared  to  "  prove  also  by  the  evidence  of  newspapers  of 
that  period,  and  by  passages  in  the  colonial  records  of  Pennsylvania  that  said  flag 
had  an  existence  during  the  year  1776." 

25 


194  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

her  they  were  a  committee  of  congress,  and  wanted  her  to 
make  the  flag  from  the  drawing,  a  rough  one,  which  upon  her 
suggestions  was  redrawn  by  General  Washington  in  pencil  in 
her  back-parlor.  This  was  prior  to  the  declaration  of  indepen- 
dence ;  and  I  fix  the  date  to  be  during  Washington's  visit  to 
congress  from  New  York  in  June,  1776,  where  he  came,  to  con- 
fer upon  the  affairs  of  the  army,  the  flag  being  no  doubt  one  of 
these  affairs." 

Mr  Canby,  in  later  letters,  contends  that  the  stars  and  stripes 
were  in  common  if  not  general  use  soon  after  the  declaration  of 
independence,  and  nearly  a  year  before  the  resolution  of  con- 
gress proclaiming  them  the  flag  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

He  says,  he  finds  evidence  of  this  in  newspapers  and  in  the  fact 
that  regiments  were  allowed  compensation  for  altering  their  colors 
after  July  4,  1776,  and  that  Indian  tribes  during  that  year  peti- 
tioned congress  for  a  flag  of  the  United  States,1  also  from  the  state- 
ments of  Miss  Montgomery 2  that  her  father,  Capt.  Hugh  Mont- 
gomery, early  in  July,  1776,  hoisted  the  stars  and  stripes. 
Her  statement  is  that  Robert  Morris,  the  financier,  in  the  winter 
of  1775,  chartered  the  brig  Nancy  commanded  by  Capt.  Hugh 
Montgomery,  her  father,  who  was  one  of  the  owners  of  the  brig. 
In  March,  1776,  she  sailed  for  Porto  Rico  under  English  colors, 
-thence  to  other  West  India  islands,  finally  to  St.  Thomas  where 
when  her  cargo  was  nearly  completed,  information  was  received 
that  independence  was  declared,  and  a  description  of  the  colors 
adopted.  This  was  cheering  intelligence  to  the  captain,  and 
would  divest  him  of  acting  clandestinely.  Now  they  could  show 
their  true  colors.  The  material  was  at  once  procured,  and  a 
young  man  on  board  set  to  work  privately  to  make  them."  He 
was  well  known  in  after  years  as  Capt.  Thomas  Mendenhall. 
The  number  of  men  was  increased,  and  the  brig  armed  for  de- 

1  He  probably  refers  to  the  following  record  which  is  dated  eleven  days  earlier 
than  the  resolve  giving  birth  to  the  new  constellation  : 

Philadelphia,  June  3,  1777,  Colonial  Records,  vol.  1 1,  p.  212.  The  president 
laid  before  the  council  three  strings  of  wampum  which  had  been  delivered  to  him 
some  time  before  by  Thomas  Green,  a  nominal  Indian  of  the  nation,  requesting  that  a 
flag  of  the  United  States  might  be  delivered  to  him  to  take  to  the  chiefs  of  the 
nation  to  be  used  by  them  for  their  security  and  protection,  when  they  may  have 
occasion  to  visit  us  their  brethren,  and  that  his  Excellency  had  referred  him  to 
congress  for  an  answer  to  his  request. 

2  Reminiscences  of  Wilmington  in  familiar  tillage  Tales,  ancient  and  neiv}  by  Elizabeth 
Montgomery.  Philadelphia:  T.  K.  Collins,  Jr.,  1851,  p.  176-9. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  195 

fence,  and  all  things  put  in  order.  The  day  they  sailed  the 
captain  and  a  Mr.  A.  S.  had  invited  the  governor  and  suite  with 
twenty  other  gentlemen  on  board  to  dine.  A  sumptuous  dinner 
was  cooked ;  and  a  sea  turtle  being  prepared  gave  it  the  usual 
name  of  a  turtle  feast. 

"As  the  custom  house  barges  approached  with  the  company, 
they  were  ordered  to  lay  on  their  oars  while  a  salute  of  thir- 
teen guns  was  fired.  Amid  this  firing  this  young  man  was 
ordered  to  haul  down  the  English  flag  and  hoist  the  first  Ameri- 
can stars  ever  seen  in  a  foreign  port.1  Cheers  for  the  national 
congress,  cries  of '  Down  with  the  lion ;  up  with  the  stars  and 
stripes'  were  shouted.  This  novelty  caused  great  excitement 
to  the  numberless  vessels  then  lying  in  the  harbor,  and  to  the 
distinguished  guests  it  was  a  most  animating  scene.  After  the 
entertainment  was  hurried  over  they  returned  in  their  boats,  and 
the  brig  was  soon  under  full  sail."  Such  is  Miss  Montgomery's 
statement,  and  she  narrates  the  Nancy's  approach  to  our  coast 
and  her  being  run  ashore  and  blown  up  to  avoid  capture  by  a 
British  fleet,  and  says,  "  one  tottering  mast  with  the  national  flag 
flying  seemed  only  left  to  guess  her  fate.  Still  a  quantity  of 
powder  and  merchandise  was  left  below,  and  it  was  resolved  ere 
she  was  abandoned,  to  prevent  these  stores  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  by  blowing  her  up.  The  plan  was  arranged 
so  that  the  men  could  have  time  to  leave,  and  the  captain  and 
four  hands  were  the  last  to  quit.  As  the  boat  distanced  the 
wreck,  one  man,  John  Hancock,  jumped  overboard,  as  he  said 
4  to  save  the  beloved  banner  or  perish  in  the  attempt.'  His 
movement  was  so  sudden  that  no  chance  was  afforded  to  pre- 
vent his  boldness,  and  they  looked  on  with  terror  to  see  him 
ascend  the  shivering  mast,  and  deliberately  unfasten  the  flag, 
then  plunge  into  the  sea  and  bear  it  to  the  shore."  The  enemy 
taking  this  act  as  a  signal  of  surrender,  hastened  in  their  boats, 
says  Miss  Montgomery,  uto  take  possession  of  the  prize,  and  was 
in  vol ved  in  the  subsequent  explosion."  Miss  Montgomery's  nar- 
rative proves,  if  it  proves  any  thing,  not  that  her  father  hoisted 
the  stars  and  stripes,  as  she  asserts,  but  the  continental  flag  in 
place  of  the  English  ensign,  for  the  Nancy  was  blown  up  on 

1  A  beautiful  mezzotinto  engraving  of  the  Nancy,  flying  the  stars  and  stripes  fur- 
nishes a  frontispiece  to  Miss  Montgomery's  Reminiscences. 


196  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

the  29th  of  June,1  five  days  before  the  declaration  of  independ- 
ence, and  before  a  drawing  of  Mrs.  Ross's  flag  could  have  reached 
her  in  the  West  Indies. 

On  the  24th  of  Feb.,  1776,  the  committee  of  safety  at  Phila- 
delphia ordered  "  that  Capt.  Proctor  procure  a  flag  stafF  for  the 
fort  with  a  flag  of  the  United  Colonies,"2  and  that  Commodore 
Caldwell  and  Capt.  Proctor  fix  upon  proper  signals  for  the  fleet, 
merchantmen  and  battery.  Under  date  August  19,  1776,  Capt. 
Wm.  Richards  writes  to  the  Pennsylvania  council  of  safety  : 

u  Gentlemen,  I  hope  you  have  agreed  what  sort  of  color  I 
am  to  have  made  for  the  galleys  etc.,  as  they  are  much  wanted; " 
and  under  date  "  Oct.  15,  1776:  Gentlemen,  the  commodore 
was  with  me  this  morning  and  says  the  fleet  has  not  any  colors 
to  hoist  if  they  should  be  called  to  duty.  It  is  not  in  my  power 
to  get  them  done,  until  there  is  a  design  to  make  the  colors  by"3 

The  colors  he  wanted  a  design  for  were  probably  state  colors, 
but  the  request  shows  that  no  national  colors  had  been  adopted, 
and  that  the  continental  flag  was  still  in  use. 

The  portrait  of  Washington  at  the  battle  of  Trenton,  painted 
by  Chas.  Wilson  Peale  in  1779,  has  a  representation  of  a  union 
jack  with  the  thirteen  stars  arranged  in  a  circle,  but  it  affords 

1  Philadelphia,   June  29,  1776.      The   brig  Nancy,    Captain  Montgomery,  of  six 
three  pounders  and  eleven  men  from  St.  Croix  and  St.  Thomas,  for  this  port,  with  three 
hundred  and  eighty-six  barrels    of  gunpowder,  fifty  firelocks,  one   hundred  and  one 
hogsheads  of  rum,  and  sixty-two  hogsheads  of  sugar,   etc.,  on  board,  in   the  morning 
of  the  29th  of  June,  when  standing  for  Cape  May,  discovered  six  sail  of  men-of-war, 
tenders,  etc.,   making  towards   him,  as  also  a   row-boat.     The   boat  and  tenders  he 
soon  after  engaged  and  beat  off",  stood  close  along  shore,  and  got  assistance  from  Cap- 
tain Wickes  and  Barry,  when  it  was  agreed  to  run  the  brig  ashore,  which  was  done  ; 
and  under  favor  of  a   fog,  they  saved  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  barrels  of  powder, 
fifty  arms,  and  some  dry  goods,  when   the  fog  clearing   away,  Captain   Montgomery 
discovered  the  enemy's  ships  very  near  him,  and  five  boats  coming  to  board  the  brig, 
on  which  he  started  a  quantity  of  powder  in  the  cabin,  and  fifty  pounds  in  the  main- 
sail, in   the  folds  of  which  he    put   fire,   and   then   quitted  her.     The  men-of-war's 
boats  (some  say  two,  some  three)  boarded  the  brig,  and  took   possession  of  her  with 
three  cheers ;  soon  after  which  the  fire   took  the  desired  effect,   and  blew  the  pirates 
forty  or  fifty  yards   into  the  air  and   much  shattered  one  of  their  boats   under   her 
stern,  eleven  dead  bodies  have   since  come  on  shore,   with  two  gold-laced  hats  and  a 
leg  with  a  garter.      From  the  number  of  limbs   floating  and  driven  ashore,  it  is  sup- 
posed thirty  or  forty  of  them  were  destroyed  by  the  explosion.     A  number  of  people 
from  on  board   our   ships   of  war,   and  a   number  of  the   inhabitants  of  Cape  May, 
mounted  a  gun  on  shore,  with   which   they  kept  up  a  fire  at  the  barges,   which  the 
men-of-war,  etc.,  returned,  and  killed  Mr.  Wickes,  third  lieutenant  of  the  contin- 
ental ship  Reprisal,  and  wounded  a  boy  in  the  thigh. — American  Archives,  vol.  vi,  p. 
1132  C4th  series^). 

2  Penn.  Colonial  Records,  vol.  x,  page  494. 

3  Penn.  Archives,  vol.  v,  pages  13  and  14. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  197 

only  presumptive  proof  that  such  a  flag  was  carried  at  that 
battle.  Mr.  Peale's  son,  Titian  R.  Peale,  writing  recently 
to  my  friend,  Mr.  McAllister,  says,"  whether  it  (the  union  jack) 
was  my  father's  design,  original  or  not,  I  cannot  say,  but  I  suppose 
it  was,  because  he  has  somewhat  marred  the  artistic  effect  by 
showing  the  stars,  and  flattening  the  field  to  show  their  arrange- 
ment" ;  and  in  another  letter  to  the  same  gentleman,"  I  have  just 
had  time  to  visit  the  Smithsonian  Institution  to  see  the  portrait  of 
Washington  painted  by  my  father  C.  W.  Peale  after  the  battle 
of  Trenton.  It  is  marked  in  his  handwriting  1779.  The  flag 
represented,  is  a  blue  field  with  white  stars  arranged  in  a  circle.  I 
don't  know  that  I  ever  heard  my  father  speak  of  that  flag,  but  the 
trophies  at  Washington's  feet,  I  know  he  painted  from  the 
flags  then  captured,  and  which  were  left  with  him  for  the  purpose. 
He  was  always  very  particular  in  matters  of  historic  record  in 
his  pictures  (the  service  sword  in  that  picture  is  an  instance,  and 
probably  caused  its  acceptance  by  congress).  The  blue  ribbon 
has  also  excited  comment  —  the  badge  of  field  marshal  of  France 
in  that  day.1  I  have  no  other  authority,  but  feel  assured  that  flag 
was  the  flag  of  our  army  at  the  time  1 779.  My  father  commanded 
a  company  at  the  battles  of  Germantown,  Trenton,  Princeton, 
and  Monmouth,  and  was  soldier  as  well  as  painter,  and  I  am 
sure  represented  the  flag  then  in  use,  not  a  regimental  flag,  but 
one  to  mark  the  new  republic." 

When  the  declaration  of  independence  was  received  at  Easton, 
Pennsylvania,  the  colonel  and  all  the  other  field  officers  of 
the  first  battalion  repaired  to  the  court  house,  the  light  infantry 
company  marching  there  with  their  drums  beating,  fifes  playing, 
"  and  the  standard,  (the  device  for  which  is  the  thirteen  United 
Colonies),  which  was  ordered  to  be  displayed."2 

The  declaration  was  read  in  New  York  in  the  presence  of 
Washington  by  one  of  his  aids,  on  the  gth  of  July,  1776,  in  the 
centre  of  a  hollow  square  of  the  troops  drawn  up  on  the  Park 
near  where  there  now  is  a  fountain,  and  it  is  morally  certain  the 
grand  union  flag  of  Cambridge  was  then  if  it  had  not  been  earlier, 
unfurled  in  New  York. 


1  Washington's  general  order  July  24,  1775,  prescribes  a  broad  purple  ribbon  as  the 
distinguishing  mark  of  a  major  general,  see  note  ante,  page  I  57. 
3  Pennsylvania  Evening  Post,  July  1 1,  1776. 


198  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  first  anniversary  of  the  declaration  of  independence,  July 
4,  1777,  was  celebrated  in  Philadelphia  with  demonstrations  of 
joy  and  festivity.  About  noon  all  the  armed  ships  and  galleys 
in  the  river  were  drawn  up  before  the  city,  dressed  in  the  gayest 
manner  with  the  colors  of  the  United  States,  and  streamers  flying. 
At  one  o'clock  the  yards  being  properly  manned  they  began  the 
celebration  of  the  day  by  a  discharge  of  thirteen  cannon  from 
each  ship,  and  one  from  each  of  the  thirteen  galleys  in  honor  of 
the  thirteen  United  States.  In  the  afternoon  an  elegant  dinner 
was  provided  by  congress,  toasts  were  drank,  feu-de-joies  were 
fired,  the  troops  reviewed  by  congress  and  the  general  officers, 
and  the  day  closed  with  the  ringing  of  bells,  the  exhibition  of 
fireworks  which  began  and  ended  with  thirteen  rockets,  and 
the  city  beautifully  illuminated.1 

Similar  rejoicings  and  displays  of  the  flag  of  the  United  States 
were  had  all  over  the  country. 

Paul  Jones  has  claimed  that  it  was  his  good  fortune  to  be  the 
first  to  display  the  stars  and  stripes  on  a  naval  vessel,  as  it  had  been 
to  hoist  with  his  own  hand  the  continental  flag,  or  "  flag  of 
America,"  as  he  called  it,  for  the  first  time  on  board  the  Alfred. 
He  also  claimed  to  have  obtained  and  received  for  our  star 
spangled  banner,  the  first  salute  granted  to  it  in  Europe. 

The  same  day  that  congress  passed  the  resolve  in  relation  to  the 
flag  of  the  thirteen  United  States,  June  14,  1777,  it  also  "  Re- 
solved, that  Paul  Jones  be  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
Ranger,"  and  soon  after  he  hoisted  the  new  flag  on  board  of  that 
vessel  at  Portsmouth.  The  Ranger,  however,  did  not  get  to  sea 
until  the  ist  of  November,  five  months  later.  Her  battery  was 
sixteen  six-pounders,  throwing  only  48  pounds  of  shot  from  a 
broadside,  an  armament  which  excites  a  smile  of  contempt  in 
these  days  of  heavy  guns,  and  she  was  otherwise  very  poorly 
equipped.  Among  other  deficiencies  Jones  laments  having 
only  thirty  gallons  of  rum  for  the  crew  to  drink  on  their  passage  to 
Nantes.  He  also  represented  her  as  slow  and  crank,  yet  he 
managed  to  capture  two  prizes,  on  his  passage  to  Europe  and 
reached  Nantes  in  thirty  days  from  Portsmouth. 

From  Nantes,  Jones  sailed  to  Quiberon  bay,  convoying  some 
American  vessels,  and  placing  them  under  the  protection  and 

1  Pennsylvania  Journal,  July  9,  1777. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  1Q9 

convoy  of  the  French  fleet  commanded  by  Admiral  La  Motte 
Piquet.  From  him,  after  some  correspondence,  Jones  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  the  first  salute  ever  paid  by  a  foreign  naval 
power  to  the  stars  and  stripes.  The  story  of  this  event  is  best 
told  in  Jones's  letter  to  the  naval  committee,  dated  Feb.  22, 1778: 

"  I  am  happy  (he  says,)  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  con- 
gratulate on  my  having  seen  the  American  flag,  for  the  first 
time,  recognized  in  the  fullest  and  completest  manner  by  the 
flag  of  France.  I  was  off  this  bay  on  the  I3th  inst,  and  sent 
my  boat  in  the  next  day  to  know  if  the  admiral  would  return 
my  salute.  He  answered  that  he  would  return  to  me  as  the 
senior  American  continental  officer  in  Europe,  the  same  salute 
as  he  was  authorized  to  return  to  an  admiral  of  Holland,  or  any 
other  republic,  which  was  four  guns  less  than  the  salute  given. 
I  hesitated  at  this,y^r  I  bad  demanded  gun  for  gun. 

"  Therefore  I  anchored  in  the  entrance  of  the  bay  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  French  fleet ;  but  after  a  very  particular  inquiry 
on  the  J4th,  finding  that  he  really  told  the  truth,  I  was  induced 
to  accept  his  offer,  the  more  as  it  was  an  acknowledgment  of 
American  Independence. 

"The  wind  being  contrary  and  blowing  hard  it  was  after 
sunset  before  the  Ranger1  was  near  enough  to  salute  La  Motte 
Piquet  with  thirteen  guns,  which  he  returned  with  nine.  How- 
ever, to  put  the  matter  beyond  a  doubt,  I  did  not  suffer  the 
Independence  to  salute  until  the  next  morning,  when  I  sent 
word  to  the  admiral  that  I  would  sail  through  his  fleet  in  the 
brig,  and  would  salute  him  in  open  day.  He  was  exceedingly 
pleasant,  and  returned  the  compliment  also  with  nine  guns." 

As  though  providence  delighted  to  honor  Jones  above  all 
others  in  connection  with  our  flag,  and  was  determined  to 
entwine  his  name  with  its  early  history,  to  him  was  assigned 
the  honorable  duty  of  displaying  it  for  the  first  time  on  board 
the  first  ship  of  the  line  built  for  the  United  States,  and  fitly  named 
The  America. 


1  Jones,  in  his  letter  to  the  American  commissioners  at  Paris,  dated  Brest,  May  27, 
1778,  mentions  that  in  the  action  between  the  Ranger  and  the  Drake  on  the  24th 
of  April  preceding,  when  the  latter  hoisted  the  English  colors,  *'  the  American  stars 
were  displayed  on  board  the  Ranger." —  SherburnSs  Life  of  Jones. 

The  Ranger  was  taken  with  other  vessels  in  the  Port  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  on  the 
surrender  of  that  city  to  the  British. —  Charnoclis  Biographic  Navalis,  vol.  vi,  p.  5. 


200  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

This  ship,  like  the  Ranger,  was  built  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H., 
and  Jones  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  her.  Before  she 
could  be  launched,  the  Magnifique,  one  of  the  finest  seventy-fours 
of  the  French  navy,  was  stranded  in  Boston  harbor,  and  to 
replace  her,  the  America  was  by  a  resolve  of  the  American 
congress  presented  to  the  French  sovereign  our  ally.  Jones, 
however,  was  retained  in  the  command  of  her  superintending 
her  construction,  and  on  the  5th  of  Nov.,  1782,  displaying  the 
French  and  American  flags  from  her  stern,  he  launched  her 
into  the  waters  of  Portsmouth  harbor,  and  delivered  her  to  the 
Chevalier  Martigne,  who  had  commanded  the  Magnifique.  It 
is  probable  that  Jones  hoisted  the  stars  and  stripes  on  board  of 
her  the  preceding  summer  when  at  his  own  expense,  he  cele- 
brated the  birth-day  of  the  dauphin  of  France,  as  it  is  recorded 
that  the  ship  on  that  occasion  was  decorated  with  the  flags  of 
different  nations,  that  of  France  being  in  front,  and  that  salutes 
were  fired,  and  at  night  the  ship  brilliantly  illuminated,  etc. 

The  first  military  incident  connected  with  the  flag  we  have 
to  relate, occurred  on  the  2d  of  August,  1777,  when  Lieuts.  Bird 
and  Brant  invested  Fort  Stanwix,  or  Schuyler,  then  commanded 
by  Col.  Peter  Gansevoort.  The  garrison  was  without  a  flag 
when  the  enemy  appeared,  but  their  pride  and  ingenuity  soon 
supplied  one  in  conformity  to  the  pattern  just  adopted  by  the 
continental  congress.  Shirts  were  cut  up  to  form  the  white 
stripes,  bits  of  scarlet  cloth  were  joined  for  the  red,  and  the  blue 
ground  for  the  stars  was  composed  of  a  cloth  cloak  belonging  to 
Captain  Abraham  Swartwout  of  Dutchess  county  who  was 
then  in  the  fort.  Before  sunset  the  curious  mosaic  work 
standard,  as  precious  to  the  beleaguered  garrison  as  the  most 
beautiful  wrought  flag  of  silk  and  needle  work,  was  floating  over 
one  of  the  bastions.  The  siege  was  raised  on  the  22d  of  August, 
but  we  are  not  told  what  became  of  the  improvised  flag. 

The  narrative  of  Col.  Marinus  Willett's  services  presents  a 
somewhat  different  version  of  this  story.  He  says:  "  the  fort  had 
never  been  supplied  with  a  flag.  The  necessity  of  having  one  had, 
upon  the  arrival  of  the  enemy,  taxed  the  invention  of  the  garrison 
a  little,  and  a  decent  one  was  soon  contrived.  The  white  stripes 
were  cut  out  of  ammunition  shirts  furnished  by  the  soldiers  ; 
the  blue  out  of  the  camlet  cloak  taken  from  the  enemy  at  Peeks- 


FLAG  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES.  201 

kill ;  while  the  red  stripes  were  made  of  different  pieces  of  stuff 
procured  from  one  and  another  of  the  garrison." 

In  his  statement  to  Gov.  Trumbull,  Aug.  21,  1777,  of  the 
occurrences  at  and  near  Fort  Stanwix,  Col.  Willett  mentions 
among  the  results  of  his  sally  from  the  fort  on  the  6th,  preceding, 
that  he  captured  and  brought  off  five  of  the  enemy's  colors,  the 
whole  of  which  on  his  return  to  the  fort,  were  displayed  on  the  flag 
staff  under  the  impromptu  made  continental  flag. x 

Mr.  Haven  in  his  paper  before  the  New  Jersey  Historical 
Society  says :  cc  From  traditional  reports  on  circulation  here 
[Trenton]  the  first  time  that  our  national  flag  was  used  after  the 
enactment  concerning  it  by  congress,  was  by  General  Wash- 
ington in  the  hurried  and  critical  stand  made  by  him  on  the  banks 
of  the  Assanpink,  when  he  repulsed  Cornwallis  in  1777.  As 
this  conflict  was  the  turning  point  in  connection  with  what  suc- 
ceeded at  Princeton,  of  the  struggle  for  independence,  and  the 
glorious  consequences  which  followed,  does  not  this  signal 
baptism  of  the  stars  and  stripes,  with  the  hope  and  confidence  re- 
generated by  it,  seem  providential  ?  Freedom's  vital  spark  was 
then  rekindled,  and  our  own  country  and  the  whole  civilized 
world  are  now  illumined  with  its  beams." 

Beyond  doubt  the  thirteen  stars  and  thirteen  stripes  were 
unfurled  at  the  battle  of  the  Brandywine,  Sept.  n,  1777,  eight 
days  after  the  official  promulgation  of  them  at  Philadelphia,  and 
at  Germantown  on  the  4th  of  October  following ;  that  they 
witnessed  the  operations  against  and  final  surrender  of  Burgoyne, 
after  the  battle  of  Saratoga,  Oct.  17, 1777  ;  that  the  sight  of  this 
new  constellation  helped  to  cheer  the  patriots  of  the  army  amid 
their  sufferings  around  the  camp  fires  at  Valley  Forge  the  en- 
suing winter;  that  they  waved  triumphant  at  the  surrender  of 
Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  Sept.  19,  1781  ;  looked  down  upon 
the  evacuation  of  New  York,  Nov.  25,  1783  ;  and  shared  in 
all  the  glories  of  the  latter  days  of  the  revolution. 

On  the  28th  of  Jan.,  1778,  the  stars  and  stripes  for  the 
first  time  waved  over  a  foreign  fortress.  About  eleven  o'clock 
the  night  previous,  the  American  sloop  of  war  Providence,2  Capt. 

1  Lossing's  Field  Book  American  Revolution,  vol.  I,  p.  242. 

2  The  Providence  was  captured  when  Charleston  was  taken. 

26 


202  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

John  Rathburne,  mounting  twelve  four-pounders,  with  a  crew  of 
fifty  men,  landed  twenty-five  of  her  crew  on  the  island  of  New 
Providence.  They  were  joined  by  about  eighteen  or  twenty 
Americans  escaped  from  British  prison  ships,  and  who  were 
waiting  an  opportunity  to  return  home.  This  small  body  of 
men  took  possession  of  Fort  Nassau,  with  the  cannon,  ammu- 
nition and  300  stand  of  small  arms. 

In  the  port  lay  a  sixteen-gun  ship,  with  a  crew  of  forty-five 
men,  and  five  vessels,  all  prizes  to  the  British  sloop  Grayton.  At 
daybreak  four  men  were  sent  on  board  the  sixteen-gun  ship  to 
take  possession  of  her,  and  send  the  officers  and  crew  into  the 
fort.  Her  prize  captain  was  shown  the  American  flag  hoisted  on 
the  fort,  and  informed  that  his  ship  would  be  instantly  sunk,  should 
he  hesitate  to  surrender.  Thus  intimidated,  he  gave  her  up,  and 
the  other  five  prize  vessels  were  secured  in  a  similar  manner. 
Possession  was  also  taken  of  the  western  fort,  its  cannon  spiked, 
and  its  powder  and  small  arms  removed  to  Fort  Nassau.  About 
twelve  o'clock,  some  200  armed  people  assembled  and  threat- 
ened to  attack  the  fort ;  but  on  being  informed  if  they  fired  a 
-single  gun,  the  town  should  be  laid  in  ashes,  they  dispersed. 
Soon  after,  the  Providence  anchored  in  the  roads,  the  British 
ship  Grayton  hove  in  sight.  The  American  colors  were  im- 
mediately taken  down,  and  the  guns  of  the  Providence  housed, 
hoping  the  Grayton  would  come  to  anchor.  But  the  inhabitants 
signaled  to  her  the  state  of  affairs  and  she  stood  off.  The  fort 
opened  fire  upon  her,  but  she  made  her  escape. 

About  three  o'clock  the  next  morningsome^oo  men  with  seve- 
ral pieces  of  artillery  marched  within  sight  of  the  fort  and  sum- 
moned it  to  surrender,  threatening  at  the  same  time  to  storm  the 
place,  and  put  all  to  the  sword  without  mercy.  The  Americans, 
however  in  the  presence  of  the  messenger,  nailed  their  colors  to 
the  flag-staff,  and  returned  answer  that  while  a  man  of  them  sur- 
vived they  would  not  surrender. 

The  following  morning  the  prizes  were  manned,  the  guns  of 
the  fort  spiked,  the  ammunition  and  small  arms  conveyed  on 
board  the  Providence,  and  the  whole  American  garrison  was  em- 
barked and  put  to  sea,  after  having  held  possession  of  the  fort 
two  days.  Two  of  the  prizes  were  burnt,  being  of  little  value, 
the  others  were  sent  to  the  United  States.' 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  203 

When  the  news  that  the  treaty  of  alliance  with  France  (the 
first  treaty  of  our  new  republic  with  a  foreign  .power)  had  been 
signed  at  Paris,  Feb.  6,  1778,*  was  received,  Gen.  Washington 
from  his  head  quarters  at  Valley  Forge  issued  orders  on  May  id, 
that  the  following  day  should  be  set  apart,  "  for  gratefully  ac- 
knowledging the  divine  goodness  and  celebrating  the  important 
event  which  we  owe  to  his  benign  interposition."  Accordingly 
the  army  was  reviewed  by  the  commander-in-chief  with  banners 
waving,  and  at  given  signals,  after  the  discharge  of  thirteen  cannon 
and  a  running  fire  of  infantry,  the  whole  army  huzzaed,  ;tlong 
live  the  king  of  France,"  then  after  a  like  salute  of  thirteen  guns 
and  a  second  general  discharge  of  musketry,  "Huzza  :  long  live 
the  friendly  European  powers !"  Then  a  final  discharge  of 
thirteen  pieces  of  artillery  followed  by  a  general  running  fire  and 
"Huzza,  for  the  American  States!"2 

The  officers  approached  the  place  of  entertainment  thirteen 
abreast  and  closely  linked  in  each  other's  arms,  thus  signifying  the 
thirteen  American  states  j  and  the  interweaving  of  arms  a  com- 
plete union  and  most  perfect  confederation.  A  full  account  of  this 
joyful  occasion  can  be  found  in  the  New  Jersey  Gazette,  May 
13,  1778,  New  Tork  Journal,  June  15,  and  is  copied  in  Frank 
Moore's  Diary  of  the  Revolution,  vol.  n,  p.  48—52. 

1  Pennsylvania  Packet,  March  28,  1778. 

2  The  French  alliance  was  looked  upon  as  a  wonderful  interposition  of  providence 
in  favor  of  the  country,  and  every  measure  that  could  be  adopted  was  taken  to  extend 
a  sentiment  of  confidence  in  the  result  of  the  struggle   after  this  happy  event.     As 
one  of  the  means  of  effecting  this  end,  the  following  curious  statement  was  made  and 
published  throughout  the  United  States  : 

Wonderful  Appearances  and  Omens. 

1.  After  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  and  while  the  treaty  of  alliance  with  France 
was  on  the  carpet,  the  American  heavens  were  illuminated  at  intervals  for  whole  months 
together.  The  aurora  borealis,  or  northern  lights,  were  the  greatest  ever  seen  in  America. 

2.  When  the  fleet  of  his  most  Christian  majesty,  twelve  ships  of  the  line,  and  by 
the  capture  of  a  British  ship  offeree,  thirteen,  and  commanded  by  the  admiral,  the  illus- 
trious D'Estaing   hove  in  sight  of  our  capes,  the  artillery  of  the  skies  was  discharged 
and  thirteen  thunders  were  distinctly  heard  on  the  coast  of  the  Delaware. 

3.  On   the  morning  after  the  arrival  of  his  plenipotentiary,  the  illustrious  Gerard, 
being  the  thirteenth  of  the  month  —  an  aloe  tree  —  the  only  one  in  this  State  —  im- 
mediately shot  forth  its  spire,  which  it  never  does  but  once  in  its  existence,  and  in  some 
other  climates  only  once  in  one  hundred  years.     It  has  been  planted    forty  years  in 
the  neighborhood  of  this  city,  and  previously  only  produced  four  leaves  a  year,  until 
this  year,  when  it    produced  thirteen.     The  spire  is  remarkable,  being  thirteen  inches 
round,    and   having  grown   thirteen  feet  in  the  first  thirteen  days.      The  Scotch  talk 
much  of  the  thistle,  and  the  South  Britons  of  the  Glastenbury  thorn.     Much  finer 
things  may  be  said  of  the  aloe  of  America  and  thefeur  de  Us  of  France.  —  Wtscotfs 
History  of  Philadelphia,  published  in  Sunday  Dispatch,  April, 


204  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  next  interesting  incident  connected  with  the  new  constel- 
lation we  have  to  narrate  occurred  on  the  yth  of  March,  1778, 
when  the  continental  ship,  Randolph,  thirty-two,  Capt.  Nicholas 
Biddle,  was  blown  up  in  an  engagement  with  the  Yarmouth, 
sixty-four,  to  the  eastward  of  Barbadoes.  The  two  ships  were 
in  such  close  action  that  many  fragments  of  the  Randolph  struck 
the  Yarmouth,  and  among  other  things  an  American  ensign  rolled 
up  was  blown  in  upon  the  forecastle  of  the  Yarmouth.  The  flag 
was  not  singed.  Cooper  in  his  novel,  Le  Feu  Follet,  seizes  upon 
this  incident,  when  he  describes  the  flag  of  that  rover  after  her 
sudden  disappearance  as  washed  upon  the  forecastle  of  the  ship 
in  chase.  A  model  of  the  Randolph  has  been  preserved,  and 
in  1842  was  to  be  seen  in  the  hall  of  the  Naval  Asylum  at  Phil- 
adelphia. 

In  the  agreement  (June,  1779),  between  John  Paul  Jones, 
captain  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard,  Pierre  Landais,  captain 
of  the  Alliance,  Dennis  Nicolas  Cottineaux,  captain  of  the 
Pallas,  Joseph  Varage,  captain  of  the  Le  Cerf,  and  Philip  Nico- 
las Recot,  captain  of  the  Vengeance,  it  was  expressly  stipulated 
that  the  Franco-American  squadron  should  fly  the  flag  of  the 
United  States,  and  that  it  should  be  commanded  by  the  oldest 
officer  of  the  highest  grade,  and  so  on  in  succession  in  case  of 
death  or  retreat.  The  frigate  Alliance,  so  named  in  honor  of 
the  treaty  with  France,  commanded  by  the  obstinate,  ill-tempered 
Frenchman,  Landais,  was  the  only  American-built  vessel  of  the 
squadron. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society, 
Jan.,  1872,  Mr.  C.  C.  Haven  made  some  interesting  remarks 
concerning  the  supposed  origin  of  our  flag,  in  the  course  of  which 
he  said  that  in  the  conflict  between  the  Bon  Homme  Richard 
and  Serapis,  James  Bayard  Stafford  was  cut  down  by  a  British 
officer,  but  rescued  and  rehoisted  her  flag  "  which  probably  had 
no  stars  or  stripes."  As  that  action  was  fought  Sept.  23,  1779, 
more  than  two  and  a  half  years  after  their  establishment  by 
congress,  and  the  agreement  of  June,  1779,  just  recited,  stipulates 
that  the  American  squadron  should  fly  the  flag  of  the  United  States, 
•Mr.  Haven  is  evidently  in  error.  Moreover,  Freneau,  in  his  poem 
on  "  that  memorable  victory  of  Paul  Jones,"  thus  alludes  to  the 
flag: 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  205 

"Go  on,  great  man,  to  scourge  the  foe, 

And  bid  the  haughty  Britons  know 
They  to  our  Thirteen  stars  shall  bend  : 
The  stars  that  clad  in  dark  attire 
Long  glimmered  with  a  feeble  fire, 
But  radiant  now  ascend." 

Mr.  Haven  also  stated  that  Miss  Sarah  S.  Stafford,  a  descend- 
ant of  the  brave  man  before  named,  has  in  her  possession  the  ori- 
ginal flag  which  was  presented  to  Capt.  Barry  of  the  Alliance  in 
1779,  and  which  "  shows  twelve  stars  and  stripes  in  an  azure  field" 
The  Alliance  was  launched  in  1777,  was  commanded  in  1778-79 
by  Pierre  Landais  and  not  until  1781-82  by  Capt.  Barry ;  possibly 
he  may  have  been  presented  with  the  flag  alluded  to  when  in 
command  of  some  other  ship  and  at  an  earlier  date. 

The  Pennsylvania  Gazette  of  April  23,  1783,  contains  the  re- 
solve respecting  the  flag  of  June  14,  1777,  and  requests  that 
the  printers  insert  the  resolution  in  their  respective  newspapers  in 
order  that  the  same  may  be  generally  known.  The  same 
paper  states  that  "at  a  meeting  of  the  respectable  inhabitants  of 
Pittsgrove  and  the  town  adjacent,  in  Salem  county,  state  of  New 
Jersey,  for  the  celebration  of  peace,  the  day  was  introduced  with 
the  raising  of  a  monument  of  great  height  on  which  was  dis- 
played the  ensign  of  peace  with  thirteen  stripes." 

Another  number  of  the  same  Gazette*  under  date  Phila- 
delphia, May  21,  1783,  says  :  "  It  is  positively  asserted  that  the 
flag  of  the  thirteen  United  States  of  America  has  been  grossly 
insulted  in  New  York  and  not  permitted  to  be  hoisted  on  board 
any  American  vessel  in  that  port.  Congress  should  demand 
immediate  reparation  for  the  indignity  wantonly  offered  to  all 
America,  and  unless  satisfactory  concessions  are  instantly  made, 
the  British  flag  which  now  streams  without  interruption  in  our 
harbor,  Philadelphia,  should  be  torn  down  and  treated  with  every 
mark  of  indignation  and  contempt. 

The  25th  of  Nov.,  1783,  is  memorable  in  the  history  of  our 
flag ;  as  the  day  fixed  upon  for  the  evacuation  of  New  York 
by  the  British  troops.  On  the  morning  of  that  day,  a  cold, 
frosty,  clear  but  brilliant  morning,  General  Knox  marched  to  the 

^•Pennsylvania  Gazette,  May  2,8,  1783. 


206  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Bowery  lane,  and  remained  until  I  P.M.,  when  the  British  left 
their  posts  and  marched  to  Whitehall.  The  American  troops 
followed,  and  before  3  p.  M.,  Gen.  Knox  took  possession  of 
Fort  George.  The  British  claimed  the  right  of  possession  until 
noon.  A  man  who  kept  a  boarding  house  run  up  the  American 
flag  in  the  morning,  the  first  displayed  in  the  city.  Cunningham, 
the  British  provost  marshal,  ordered  it  down,  and  on  the  man's 
refusal  to  take  it  down,  attempted  to  pull  it  down  himself.  The 
proprietor's  wife,  a  stout  woman,  fair,  fat  and  forty,  came  at  and 
beat  Cunningham  so  vigorously  over  the  head  with  her  broom- 
stick, that  he  was  obliged  to  decamp  and  leave  the  star  spangled 
banner  waving.  A  Dr.  Anderson,  who  was  a  witness  and  living 
in  i86o,rememberedseeingthepowderfly  from  Cunningham's  wig. 

The  original  flag  hoisted  on  the  evacuation  of  the  city,  was 
for  a  long  time  preserved  in  the  American  Museum  at  New 
York,  and  destroyed  when  that  building  was  burnt.  Mr. 
Barnum  wrote  me  (Nov.  22,  1871)  that  the  flag  was  well 
authenticated  when  presented  to  Mr.  Scudder,  founder  of  the 
Museum  in  1810.  The  flag  was  bunting,  about  9  or  10  feet 
wide  by  12  or  15  in  length,  and  had  the  thirteen  stars  and  stripes, 
but  the  arrangement  of  the  stars  is  not  remembered.  It  was 
always  run  out  in  front  of  the  Museum  on  the  anniversaries  of 
evacuation  day  and  4th  of  July,  and  was  always  saluted  by  the 
military  when  passing.1 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  revolutionary  struggle  on  the  28th 
of  Feb.,  1784,  the  officers  of  the  line  of  the  Rhode  Island  conti- 
nental battalion  presented  to  the  assembly  the  colors  they  had 
so  gallantly  borne,  with  the  following  address  : 

To  the  Honorable^  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island 
and  Providence  Plantations : 

The  officers  of  the  line  of  this  state  beg  liberty  to  approach 
this  honorable  assembly  with  the  warmest  gratitude,  upon  ex- 
changing their  military  employment  for  the  rank  of  citizens  ; 
the  glorious  objects  of  the  late  controversy  with  Great  Britain 
being  happily  accomplished,  they  resume  their  former  conditions 
with  a  satisfaction  peculiar  to  freemen.  If  they  have  deserved 

1  Manuscript  letter,  from  P.  T.  Barnum,  Nov.  az,  1871. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  207 

the  approbation  of  their  country ;  if  they  have  gained  the  confi- 
dence of  the  states;  if  they  have  endured  hardships  and  en- 
countered difficulties,  they  feel  themselves  still  indebted  for 
your  constant  attention  in  every  period  of  the  war.  If  their 
conduct  in  the  field  ;  if  their  wounds,  and  the  blood  of  their 
companions,  who  have  nobly  fallen  by  their  side,  have  entitled 
them  to  any  share  in  the  laurels  of  their  countrymen,  they  are 
fully  rewarded  in  surrendering  to  your  honors,  upon  this  occa- 
sion, the  standards  of  their  corps,  which  have  often  been  dis- 
tinguished by  the  bravery  of  your  soldiers,  upon  the  most 
critical  and  important  occasions.  They  beg  you  will  be  pleased 
to  accept  them,  with  their  most  cordial  acknowledgments,  and 
be  assured  of  the  profound  deference  with  which  they  have  the 
honor  to  be 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

JEREMIAH  OLNEY. 

Providence,  February    28,    A.D.   1784.     In    behalf  of  the 
officers. 


The  committee  to  whom  this  address  was  referred  prepared 
the  following  answer,  which  the  assembly  voted  should  be  en- 
grossed in  a  fair  copy  by  the  secretary,  and  signed  by  his 
excellency  the  governor,  and  the  honorable  the  speaker  in  be- 
half of  the  assembly,  and  presented  by  the  secretary  to  Colonel 
Jeremiah  Olney;  and  that  the  standards  should  be  carefully 
preserved  under  the  immediate  care  of  the  governor,  to  per- 
petuate the  noble  exploits  of  the  brave  corps  : 

GENTLEMEN  :  The  governor  and  company,  in  general  assem- 
bly convened,  with  the  most  pleasing  sensations,  receive  your 
affectionate  and  polite  address.  They  congratulate  you  upon 
the  happy  termination  of  a  glorious  war,  and  upon  your  return 
to  participate  with  citizens  and  freemen  in  the  blessings  of 
peace.  With  peculiar  satisfaction  they  recollect  the  bravery 
and  good  conduct  of  the  officers  of  the  line  of  this  state,  who 
after  suffering  all  the  toils  and  fatigues  of  a  long  and  bloody 
contest,  crowned  with  laurels  have  reassumed  domestic  life. 

They  are  happy  in  receiving  those  standards,  which  have  been 
often  displayed  with  glory  and  bravery,  in  the  face  of  very 


208  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

powerful  enemies,  and  will  carefully  preserve  the  same,  to  com- 
memorate the  achievements  of  so  brave  a  corps. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  in  behalf  of  both  houses  of  assembly, 
with  respect  and  esteem,  your  very  humble  servants, 
WILLIAM  GREENE,  Governor. 
WILLIAM  BRADFORD,  Speaker. 
February  28,  A.D.  1784. 

To   the   officers  of  the  line  of    this    state's  late    continental 
battalion.1 

These  colors  are  preserved  in  the  office  of  the  secretary 
of  state  of  Rhode  Island,  and  from  a  recent  examination  of 
them  I  obtain  the  following  description.2 

No.  I  is  of  white  silk,  ninety  inches  long  and  sixty-five  inches 
wide,  and  contains  thirteen  gilt  stars  in  the  corner,  on  a  very  light 
blue  ground  (probably  faded  with  time.)  The  outline  of  each 
star  is  marked  with  a  darker  shade  of  blue,  with  a  shadow  on 
the  left  side,  thereby  making  the  gilt  star  more  prominent. 
The  relative  position  of  the  stars  in  parallel  lines  is  shown  in  fig.  1 5 
pi.  vi.  In  the  centre  of  the  flag  is  an  anchor  and  a  piece  of  rope 
twining  around  it,  of  light  blue  silk,  the  same  shade  as  the  blue 
union,  sewed  on.  Above  the  anchor  is  a  scroll  painted  in  oil 
colors,  inscribed  "  Hope,"  the  motto  of  this  state.  The  oil  and 
paint  have  so  rotted  the  silk  that  this  part  of  the  flag  is  gone, 
otherwise  save  a  little  of  the  edge  which  is  torn  and  worn  away 
the  flag  is  entire.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  the 
rebellion,  this  flag  was  taken  to  Washington  by  the  2d  Rhode 
Island  regiment,  but  was  soon  returned. 

Flag  No.  2  is  of  white  silk,  fifty-one  inches  in  width  and  its 
present  length  forty-five  inches,  but  a  portion  of  the  fly  is 
gone  and  the  flag  is  much  torn. 

It  contains  a  light  blue  corner  or  canton  of  silk  sewed  on  to 
a  white  field  of  silk.  The  canton  contains  thirteen  white  five- 
pointed  stars  or  mullets  painted  on  the  silk  and  arrangecTin  par- 
allel lines  as  in  No.  I,  though  not  so  well  formed.  In  the  centre 
of  the  field  of  the  flag  painted  on  both  sides  there  is  a  scroll 


1  Rhode  Island  Colonial  Records,  vol.  x,  pp.  14  and  15. 

3  From  letters  of  Hon.  J.  R.  Bartlett,  secretary  of  state  of  Rhode  Island,  Dec.  2,6, 
1871,  and  Jan.  4,  1872. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  209 

upon  which  was  painted  R.  ISLAND  REGT.  Both  these 
flags  are  regimental,  and  not  blazoned  with  stripes.  The  date 
of  their  being  presented  to  the  regiments  has  not  been  preserved. 


THE  STARS  AND  STRIPES  FROM  THE  PEACE  OF  1783  TO  1795. 

The  independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  having 
been  recognized  and  assured  by  Great  Britain,  the  power  whose 
allegiance  they  had  repudiated,  the  stars  and  stripes  became 
henceforward  the  recognized  symbol  of  a  new  nation,  and  their 
history  an  exhibit  of  its  military,  naval,  civil,  and  commercial 
progress.  Many  Incidents  personal  to  its  history  remain,  how- 
ever, which  it  will  be  interesting  for  us  to  narrate.  It  will  also  be 
our  pheasant  duty  to  chronicle  its  first  appearance  in  various 
places,  and  its  progress  in  peace  as  well  as  its  triumphs  in  war. 

The  treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain  had  no  sooner  been 
announced  than  the  white  wings  of  our  commerce  began  to  ex- 
pand all  over  the  watery  globe  under  the  genial  union  of  the  stars 
and  stripes,  displaying  them  everywhere  to  the  wondering  gaze 
of  the  most  distant  nations,  and  furthermost  isles  of  the  seas. 

The  honor  of  having  first  hoisted  the  stars  and  stripes  after 
the  treaty  of  peace  in  a  British  port  has  been  claimed  for 
several  vessels,  and  has  been  the  occasion  of  considerable  con- 
troversy, in  which  claimants  for  Newburyport,  Philadelphia, 
Nantucket,  and  New  Bedford  have  taken  part. 

After  a  careful  examination  of  all  the  conflicting  accounts,  I 
am  clearly  of  opinion  that  to  the  ship  Bedford  of  Nantucket, 
Capt.  Wm.  Mooers,  and  owned  by  Wm.  Rotch,  of  New  Bed- 
ford, must  be  assigned  the  honor.1 

A  London  periodical,  published  in  1783,  has  this  account  of 
her  arrival  in  the  Thames  :x 

"  The  ship  Bedford,  Capt.  Moores,  belonging  to  Massachu- 
setts, arrived  in  the  Downs  on  the  3d  of  Feb.,  passed  Graves- 
end  the  3d,  and  was  reported  at  the  custom  house  on  the  6th 

^The  Political  Magazine  ;  Barnard1 1  History  of  England  (page  705),  a  somewhat 
rare  book,  contains  the  same  account.  The  American  and  British  Chronicle  of  War 
and  Politics  under  date  "  Feb.  7,  1783,"  also  records,  "  First  American  ship  in  the 
Thames,  from  Nantucket. 

27 


210  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

inst.  She  was  not  allowed  regular  entry  until  some  consultation 
had  taken  place  between  the  commissioners  of  the  customs  and 
the  lords  of  council  on  account  of  the  many  acts  of  parliament 
in  force  against  the  rebels  of  America.  She  was  loaded  with  487 
butts  of  whale  oil,  is  American  built,  manned  wholly  by  Ameri- 
can seamen,  wears  the  rebel  colors,  and  belongs  to  the  island  of 
Nantucket,  in  Massachusetts.  This  is  the  first  vessel  which  has 
displayed  the  thirteen  rebellious  stripes  of  America  in  any  British 
port.  The  vessel  is  at  Horsledown,  a  little  below  the  Tower, 
and  is  intended  to  return  immediately  to  New  England." 

In  a  summary  of  parliamentary  debates  contained  in  the  same 
magazine,  under  date  Feb.  yth: 

tc  Mr.  Hammet  begged  leave  to  inform  the  house  of  a  very 
recent  and  extraordinary  event.  There  was,  he  said,  at  the 
time  of  his  speaking,  an  American  ship  in  the  Thames  wtth  the 
thirteen  stripes  flying  on  board.  The  ship  had  offered  to  enter 
at  the  custom  house,  but  the  officers  were  all  at  a  loss  how  to 
behave.  His  motive  for  mentioning  the  subject  was  that  minis- 
ters might  take  such  steps  with  the  American  commissioners  as 
would  secure  free  intercourse  between  this  country  and  America." 

Another  London  newspaper  of  the  same  date  reports  the 
Bedford  "  as  the  first  vessel  that  has  entered  the  river  belonging 
to  the  United  States."  And  an  original  letter  from  Peter  Van 
Schaack,  dated  London,  Feb.  19,  1783,  contains  this  paragraph  : 
"  One  or  two  vessels  with  the  thirteen  stripes  flying  are  now 
in  the  river  Thames,  and  their  crew  caressed." 

The  Gentleman' 's  Magazine  for  1783,  corroborates  these  state- 
ments, and  says:  "Monday,  Feb.  3,  1783:  Two  vessels  were 
entered  at  the  custom  house  from  Nantucket,  an  American  island 
near  Rhode  Island  :  a  third  ship  is  in  the  river.  They  are 
entirely  laden  with  oil,  and  come  under  a  pass  from  Admiral 
Digby,  the  inhabitants  having  agreed  to  remain  neutral  during 
the  war." 

If  further  confirmation  of  the  Bedford  being  the  first  to  dis- 
play the  stars  and  stripes  in  the  Thames  is  necessary,  we  have  it 
in  the  following  letter  from  William  Rotch,  Jr.,  one  of  her 
owners.  There  is  a  discrepancy  respecting  the  date  of  her  dis- 
play of  the  stars  and  stripes;  but  his  letter  was  written  nearly 
sixty  years  after  the  event  he  narrates,  and  it  may  be  presumed 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  211 

the  contemporaneous  accounts  are  right  in  that  respect  and  that 
he  is  wrong. 

New  Bedford,  8th  mo.  3d,  1842. 

DEAR  FRIEND  :  In  my  reply  to  thy  letter  of  the  2ist  ult.,  re- 
ceived last  evening,  according  to  the  best  of  my  recollection, 
my  father  had  a  vessel  built  by  Ichabod  Thomas  at  North  river, 
just  before  the  revolution,  for  himself  and  Champion  &  Dickason, 
of  London,  for  the  London  trade.  After  the  war  commenced, 
she  laid  at  Nantucket  several  years,  until  a  license  was  pro- 
cured for  her  to  go  to  London,  with  a  cargo  of  oil,  Timothy 
Folger,  commander.  Several  gentlemen  from  Boston  took  passage 
in  her,  among  whom  were  the  late  Gov.  Winthrop,  Thos.  K. 

Jones, Hutchinson,  and  some  others  whose  names  I 

do  not  recollect. 

In  1781,  Admiral  Digby  granted  thirty  licenses  for  our  vessels 
to  go  after  whales.  I  was  then  connected  with  my  father  and 
I.  Rodman  in  business.  Considerable  oil  was  obtained  in  1782. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  I  went  to  New  York  and  procured  from 
Admiral  Digby  licenses  for  the  Bedford^  Wm.  Mooers,  master, 
and  I  think  the  Industry ,  John  Chadwick,  master.  They  loaded. 
The  Bedford  sailed  first,  and  arrived  in  the  Downs  on  the  23d 
of  February,  the  day  of  the  signing  of  the  preliminary  treaty  of 
peace  between  the  United  States,  France,  and  England  ! x  and 
went  up  to  London  and  there  displayed  for  the  first  time  the 
United  States  flag.  The  Industry  arrived  afterwards,  and  was,  I 
suppose,  the  second  to  display  it.  The  widow  of  George  Hayley, 
who  did  much  business  with  New  England,  would  visit  the  old 
Bedford  and  see  the  flag  displayed.  She  was  the  sister  of  the 
celebrated  John  Wilkes. 

"We  sent  the  sloop  Speedwell  to  Aux  Cayes  (St.  Domingo). 
She  was  taken  and  carried  into  Jamaica,  but  her  captain  was 
released  one  day  after.  By  the  treaty  the  war  ceased  in  that 
latitude,  and  she  was  released  when  she  showed  the  first  United 
States  flag  there.  On  her  return  home,  everything  was  very  low 
by  the  return  of  peace.  We  put  on  board  two  hundred  boxes 
of  candles,  and  with  William  Johnson  (whose  widow  I  learned 
lives  at  Quassi)  as  supercargo,  sent  her  to  Quebec.  Where  hers, 
was  the  first  United  States  flag  exhibited. 


212  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Should  thee  wish  any  further  information  within  my  recollec- 
tion, I  will  freely  communicate  it. 

I  am,  with  love  to  thy  wife, 

Thy  affectionate  Friend, 

WM.  ROTCH,  Jun.1 

Thomas  Kempton,  of  New  Bedford,  who  was  living  in  1866 
said  the  Bedford  was  built  at  New  Bedford  before  the  year  1770, 
probably  by  James  Lowden,  as  he  was  the  proprietor  of  the  only 
ship  yard  there  at  that  time.  She  was  first  rigged  as  a  schooner, 
afterwards  changed  to  a  brig,  and  finally  rebuilt,  raised  upon, 
furnished  with  an  additional  deck,  and  rigged  as  a  ship.  After 
all  these  alterations  she  measured  170  or  180  tons.2  No  portrait 
of  her  has  been  preserved,  and  her  history  after  this  notable 
cruise,  is  unknown. 

The  coinciding  testimony  of  several  cptemporary  English  peri- 
odicals, the  discussion  in  parliament,  the  evidence  of  Barnard's 
History  and  the  agreeing  statement  of  one  of  her  owners,  seem  con- 
clusive that  the  Bedford  was  the  first  vessel  to  hoist  the  stars  and 
stripes  in  a  British  port.  The  honor  has,  however,  been  claimed 
for  the  ship  United  States  of  Boston,  owned  by  John  Han- 
cock ;  for  a  Newburyport  ship,  the  Comte  de  Grasse,  Nicholas 
Johnson,  master;  for  the  ship  William  Penn  of  Philadelphia 
Capt.  Josiah,3  and  for  the  the  bark  Maria  belonging  to  the 
owners  of  the  Bedford. 

In  1859,  tnere  were  three  veterans  living  in  Nantucket  who 
well  remembered  the  Bedford,  and  who  were  deeply  impressed 
with  her  departure  for  England,  which,  after  the  sufferings  of 


1The  London  papers  of  the  6th,  as  we  have  seen,  notice  the  Bedford's  arrival  on 
the  3d.  The  preliminary  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Paris  Nov.  30,  1782  ;  but  its 
first  publication  was  in  a  postscript  to  the  London  papers,  Jan.  28,  1783.  The  treaty 
was*ot  signed  until  September. 

a  The  Bedford  returned  to  Nantucket  and  entered  at  the  custom  house  May  31, 
1783,  from  London.  She  made  a  voyage  to  the  Brazils  1773-1776.  The  tea  ships 
whose  cargoes  were  turned  into  Boston  harbor  Dec.  16,  1773,  were  freighted  by  the 
Rotches  for  the  East  India  Co.,  and  "  a  few  years  since  the  freight  for  that  tea  was  paid 
for,  every  dollar  of  it,  to  the  said  Rotches  by  the  East  India  Co.  of  London."  —  Ms. 
Letter  of  F.  C.  Sanfordof  Nantuckct,  Oct.  29,  1871.  Wm.  Rotch,  Jun.,  died  at  New 
Bedford,  April  17,  1850. 

3  A  correspondent  of  the  Philadelphia  Sunday  Dispatch,  Dec.,  1871,  says,  that 
when  Capt.  Josiah  displayed  the  American  flag  in  England  he  commanded  the  An- 
drea Doria. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  213 

the  long  and  distressing  war,  seemed  like  sending  out  a  harbinger 
of peace. 

The  preliminaries  of  peace  were  signed  on  the  3Oth  of  Nov., 
1782,  but  up  to  the  2 ist  of  Jan.,  1783,  it  was  only  known  as 
a  rumor  in  the  British  capital. 

The  first  publication  of  the  terms  of  a  treaty  of  peace  was  Jan. 
28,  1783,  in  a  postscript  of  the  London  papers  about  a  week 
before  the  arrival  of  the  Bedford.  The  king's  proclamation 
was  not  published  until  the  I5th  of  Feb.,  twelve  days  after  her 
arrival.  The  news  was  first  received  in  Boston,  April  23d,  but 
the  treaty  was  not  signed  until  September.  It  is  no  wonder  then 
when  the  master  of  the  Bedford  appeared  and  demanded  to  enter 
his  vessel  at  the  custom  house  with  her  cargo  of  oil,  coming  from 
a  country  and  people  who  were  still  considered  rebels,  his 
appearance  should  create  some  consternation.  That  under  the 
circumstances  there  should  have  been  some  hesitancy  in  entering 
her  was  as  natural,  as  that  her  arrival  should  be  noted  and 
remembered. 

Capt.  Wm.  Mooers,  the  master  of  the  Bedford,  is  tradition- 
ally reported  as  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  and  his  remarkable 
prowess  as  a  whaleman  is  familiar  to  all  who  have  made  them- 
selves acquainted  with  that  hazardous  branch  of  our  national 
enterprise.  Erect  and  commanding  in  appearance,  standing  over 
six  feet  and  weighing  more  than  two  hundred,  he  would  have 
been  a  marked  man  out  of  a  thousand. 

The  Madame  Hayley,  alluded  to  in  Mr.  Rotch's  letter,  was  a 
sister  of  John  Wilkes,  and  a  valuable  friend  to  Boston  and  Ame- 
rica during  the  revolution.  Both  she  and  Mr.  Rotch  were  passen- 
gers in  the  United  States  (one  of  the  claimants  for  the  Bedford's 
honors),  on  her  return  from  London  to  Boston  as  appeared  on  her 
log  book,  which  I  saw  and  examined  in  Boston  in  1865.  She 
was  a  woman  of  much  energy  and  great  mercantile  endowments. 
While  in  Boston  she  gave  <£ioo  towards  building  Charlestown 
bridge,  and  was  granted  the  privilege  of  being  the  first  person 
to  pass  over  it. 

The  Maria,  one  of  the  claimants  of  the  Bedford's  honors 
belonged  to  the  same  owners.  Mrs.  Farrar,  a  granddaughter 
of  Wm.  Rotch,  in  her  Recollections  of  Seventy  Years,  says  : 
"  I  have  often  heard  the  old  gentleman  (Wm.  Rotch)  tell 


214  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

with  pride  and  pleasure  that  the  Maria  was  the  first  ship  that 
ever  unfurled  the  flag  of  the  United  States  in  the  Thames."1 
But  Mrs.  Farrar  has  confounded  the  Maria  with  the  Bedford, 
for  the  Maria  was  not  built  until  the  autumn  of  1782,  and  was 
lying  at  Nantucket  when  the  Bedford  was  at  anchor  in  the 
Downs.  Mr.  Rotch's  letter  was  in  reply  to  inquiries  respect- 
ing the  Maria. 

The  Maria  was  built  at  Pembroke,  now  called  Hanson,  for  a 
privateer.  According  to  her  register  she  was  eighty-six  feet 
long,  twenty-three  feet  one  inch  wide,  eleven  feet  six  and  a  half 
inches  deep,  and  measured  2O2§  f  tons.  She  was  purchased  by 
Mr.  Rotch,  and  brought  by  Capt  Mooers  to  Nantucket  pre- 
vious to  his  sailing  thence  in  the  Bedford.  On  his  return  from 
that  voyage  he  took  the  Maria  to  London  with  a  cargo  of  oil,  and 
on  a  subsequent  voyage  he  made  in  her  the  passage  from  Nan- 
tucket to  Dover  in  twenty-one  days.  His  owner  was  a  pas- 
senger on  board,2  it  is  narrated  that  on  the  passage  Mr.  Rotch, 
during  a  storm,  became  alarmed,  and  venturing  part  way  out  of 
the  cabin  gangway  said :  "  Capt.  Mooers,  it  would  be  more  con- 
ducive to  our  safety,  for  thee  to  take  in  some  sail,  tbee  had  better 
do  so!"  To  which  Capt.  M.  replied,  "Mr.  Rotch,  I  have 
undertaken  to  carry  you  to  England  ;  there  is  a  comfortable  cabin 
for  you  ;  I  am  commander  of  the  ship  and  will  look  to  her 
safety  !"  He  could  not  brook  directions  even  from  his  owner. 
The  Maria,  under  the  name  of  the  Maria  Pochoco  and  the 
Chilian  flag,  continued  her  cruising  in  the  Pacific  until  1870, 
when  a  notice  of  her  springing  a  leak  and  foundering  at  sea  was 
published  in  the  San  Francisco  newspapers.  At  the  time  of  her 
loss  she  was  in  such  good  condition,  she  bade  fair  to  outlast  her 
century.  The  flag  she  first  wore,  though  in  shreds,  is  said  to 
be  still  in  existence  in  New  Bedford.  In  1852,  she  was  hauled 
upon  the  Fairhaven  railway  for  repairs,  but  no  essential  im- 
provement or  alteration  in  her  model  was  ever  made. 

1  Mrs.  P.  A.  Hanaford  in  her  Field,  Gunboat,  Hospital,  and  Prison,  helps  to  spread 
and  perpetuate  Mrs.  Farrar's  erroneous  statement,  and  makes  the  further  mistake  of 
calling  William  Rotch  the  father  of  Mrs.  Farrar,  and  the  Maria  a  whale  ship  at  the 
time  of  her  voyage  to  England. 

The  pride  and  pleasure  of  the  venerable  owner  of  the  Maria  were  all  right,  as  he  was 
also  the  owner  of  the  Bedford,  and  both  ships  were  commanded  by  Capt.  Mooers. 

2  The  Maria,  Wm.  Mooers,  master,  sailed  from   Nantucket  for  London,  yth  mo. 
4th,  1785.      Wm.  and  Benj.  Rotch,  the  father  and  brother  of  Wm.  Rotch,  Jun.,  on 
board  as  passengers,  going  to  establish  the  whale  fishery  from  an  English  port. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  215 

After  her  voyage  to  London  she  was  employed  in  the  whale 
fishery,  and  for  fifty  or  sixty  years  was  owned  by  Samuel  Rod- 
man of  New  Bedford  and  his  descendants.  Our  illustration 
represents  her  as  she  appeared  in  1859. 
It  is  said  there  then  stood  to  her  credit 
$250,000,  and  she  had  been  of  no  expense 
to  her  underwriters  but  once,  and  then  only 
for  a  trifling  amount.  She  once  made  two 
voyages  to  the  Pacific  within  the  short 
space  of  two  years,  returning  each  time 
with  a  full  cargo  of  oil.  She  concluded 
her  first  whaling  voyage  on  the  26th  of 
Sept.,  1795,  and  sailed  from  New  Bed- 
ford on  her  twenty-seventh  and  last  whaling 
voyage  under  our  flag  on  the  29th  of  Sept., 
1859.  On  these  voyages  she  is  credited 

The  Maria  1 859.  ."TV  .  .       r 

with  having  taken  24,419  barrels  of  sperm, 

and  134  barrels  of  whale  oil.  In  1856,  a  Mr.  Hardhitch  of 
Fairhaven,  who  sixty-four  years  before  had  assisted  in  making 
her  a  suit  of  sails,  was  again  employed  on  the  same  service  for 
her.  Feb.  24,  1863,  she  was  repaired  and  sold  at  Talcahuana, 
and  passed  under  the  Chilian  flag,  probably  to  avoid  the  risk  of 
her  capture  by  rebel  cruisers.  Her  purchasers,  Messrs.  Burton 
and  Trumbull,  of  Talcahuana,  employed  her  in  the  coal  trade. 
In  July  i,  1866,  she  was  fitted  out  for  Talcahuana  on  a  whaling 
voyage  under  command  of  David  Briggs,  of  Dartmouth,  Mass., 
and  foundered  as  we  said  in  1870,  or  according  to  another  ac- 
count, was  sunk  that  year  in  the  harbor  of  Payta.1 

The  honor  of  displaying  our  flag  in  England  for  the  first  time 
does  not,  however,  rest  with  any  vessel,  if  a  painted  representa- 
tion of  it  can  be  considered.  In  that  case  to  John  Singleton 
Copley  of  Boston,  the  American  painter,  and  the  father  of  the 
late  Lord  Lyndhurst,  must  be  assigned  the  honor. 

Elkanah  Watson,  of  Philadelphia,  a  distinguished  patriot  and 
philanthropist,  relates  in  his  Reminiscences,  that  at  the  close  of  our 
revolutionary  struggle,  having  on  the  occasion  of  Lord  Howe's 
relief  of  Gibraltar  received  100  guineas  the  result  of  a  wager,  and 
the  same  day  dining  with  Copley,  he  resolved  to  devote  that  sum 
to  a  portrait  of  himself.  The  painting  was  finished  all  but 

1  Boston  Advertiser,  July  14,  1870. 


216  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

the  back  ground,  that  being  reserved  by  Copley  to  represent  a 
ship  bearing  to  America  the  intelligence  of  the  acknowledgment 
of  independence  —  arising  sun  gilding  the  stars  and  stripes  of  the 
new  born  nation  streaming  from  her  gaff.  All  was  completed, 
save  the  flag,  which  the  painter  did  not  esteem  it  prudent  to  insert, 
as  his  gallery  was  a  constant  resort  of  the  royal  family  and  no- 
bility. I  dined,  says  Watson,  with  the  artist  on  the  glorious  5th 
of  Dec.,  1782,  after  listening  with  him  to  the  speech  of  the  king 
formally  receiving  and  recognizing  the  United  States  of  America 
as  one  of  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Previous  to  dining,  and 
immediately  after  our  return  from  the  house  of  lords,  Copley  in- 
vited us  into  his  studio  and  there  and  then,  with  a  bold  hand  and 
master  touch  and  American  heart  attached  to  the  ship  the  stars 
and  stripes.  Thus  while  the  words  of  acknowledgment  were 
still  warm  from  the  king's  lips,  the  late  rebel  but  henceforth  free 
colors  were  displayed  in  his  own  kingdom,  and  within,  a  few 
rods  of  his  own  palace.1 

This  historic  portrait  was  in  the  possession  of  the  late  Col. 
Charles  N.  Watson  of  Port  Kent,  Essex  Co.,  New  York,  a 
son  of  the  original.  An  engraving  of  it  is  attached  to  the 
Reminiscences. 

The  first  vessel  to  carry  our  flag  into  the  Chinese  sea  is  a 
matter  of  conjecture,  yet  amid  many  conflicting  claims  there 
seems  little  doubt  that  the  honor  rightfully  belongs  to  the 
ship  Empress,  Capt.  Green.  She  sailed  from  New  York  on  the 
22d  of  February,  1784  (Washington's  birth-day),  touched  at 
Europe  on  her  outward  voyage,  and  returned  to  New  York,  on 
the  nth  of  May,  1785,  having  made  the  round  voyage  in  less 
than  fifteen  months. 

When  the  thirteen  stripes  and  stars  first  appeared  at  Canton, 
it  is  said  much  curiosity  was  excited  among  the  people.  News 
was  circulated  that  a  strange  ship  had  arrived  from  the  farther 
end  of  the  world  bearing  a  flag  as  beautiful  as  a  flower.  Every 
body  went  to  see  the  Kaw-kee-cbeun  or  flower  flag  ship.  This 
name  at  once  established  itself  in  the  language,  and  America  is 
now  called  Kaw-kee-koh,  the  flower  flag  country,  and  an  Ameri- 
can, Kaw-kee-koch-yin,  flower  flag  country  men  —  a  more  compli- 

1  Life  and  Reminiscences  of  Elkanah  Watson,  8vo. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  217 

mentary  designation  than  that  of  red-headed  barbarian,  the  name 
first  bestowed  on  the  Dutch. 

Foreign  names,  however  unmeaning  originally,  when  written 
in  Chinese,  acquire  a  significance  which  is  often  strikingly  curi- 
ous. Thus  the  two  Chinese  characters,  Yong-kee  (Yankee)  sig- 
nify the  flag  of  the  ocean,  and  Washington  or  Wo-shing-tung, 
as  it  would  be  written,  signifies  rescue  and  glory  at  last.1 

The  ship  Franklin  of  Salem,  Capt.  James  Devereaux,  is 
believed  to  have  been  the  first  to  carry  our  flag  to  Japan.  She 
sailed  from  Boston  Dec.  u,  1798,  arrived  at  Batavia  April  28, 

1799,  reached  Japan  July  19,  1799,  and  arrived  home  May  2O, 

1800.  Her  log  book  is  preserved  in  the  library  of  the  Essex 
Institute  at  Salem. 

The  first  vessel  to  carry  our  flag  direct  to  eastern  seas  was 
the  appropriately  named  sloop  Enterprise,  Capt.  Stewart  Dean. 
She  was  a  little  sloop-rigged  vessel  of  eighty  tons,  built  at 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  was  like  the  ordinary  North  river  craft. 
She  sailed  in  1785,  and  returned  home  within  the  year.  The 
English  factory  at  Canton,  notwithstanding  the  jealousies  and 
interests  of  trade,  struck  with  the  boldness  of  the  experiment, 
received  these  adventurers  with  kindness  and  hospitality. 

The  honor  of  being  the  first  to  carry  our  flag  around  the 
world  is  assigned  to  the  auspiciously  and  appropriately  named 
ship  Columbia^  which,  under  command  of  Capts.  Kendrick  and 
Gray,  circumnavigated  the  globe  in  1789-90.  2 

The  Columbia ,  Capt.  John  Kendrick,  and  sloop  Washington^ 
Capt.  Robt.  Gray,  sailed  from  Boston,  Sept.  30, 1787,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Cape  de  Verde,  and  thence  to  the  Falkland  islands. 
Jan.,  1788,  they  doubled  Cape  Horn,  and  immediately  after  were 
separated  in  a  violent  gale.  The  Washington,  continuing  her 
course  through  the  Pacific,  made  the  north-west  coast  in  August 
near  lat.  46°  N.  Here  Capt  Gray  thought  he  perceived  indica- 
tions of  the  mouth  of  a  river,  but  was  unable  to  ascertain  the  fact  in 
consequence  of  his  vessel  grounding  and  his  being  attacked  by 
savages.  With  the  loss  of  one  man  killed,  and  the  mate  wounded, 
the  Washington  arrived  at  Nootka  sound  on  the  1 7th  of  Septem- 
ber, where, some  days  later,  she  was  joined  by  the  Columbia. 


1  American  Newspaper.  a  Bulfinch's  Oregon  and  Eldorado. 

28 


218  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  two  vessels  spent  the  winter  in  the  sound  ;  and  the 
Columbia  lay  there  during  the  following  summer,  while  Capt. 
Gray  in  the  Washington  explored  the  adjacent  waters.  On 
his  return  to  Nootka  it  was  agreed  by  the  two  captains  that 
Kendrick  should  take  command  of  the  sloop,  and  remain  upon 
the  coast  while  Capt.  Gray  in  the  Columbia  should  carry  to 
Canton  the  furs  which  had  been  collected  by  both  vessels.  This 
was  done  ;  and  Gray  arrived,  on  the  6th  of  Dec.,  at  Canton, 
where  he  sold  his  furs,  and  took  a  cargo  of  tea,  with  which  he 
entered  Boston  on  the  loth  of  Augt.,  1790,  having  carried  the 
thirteen  stars  and  thirteen  stripes  for  the  first  time  around  the 
world. 

Kendrick  immediately  on  parting  with  the  Columbia  pro- 
ceeded with  the  Washington  to  the  straits  of  Fuca,  through 
which  he  sailed  in  its  whole  length  to  its  issue  in  the  Pacific  in 
lat.  51  north.  To  him  belongs  the  credit  of  ascertaining  that 
Nootka  and  the  parts  adjacent  are  an  island,  to  which  the  name 
of  Vancouver  island  has  since  been  given.  Vancouver  was  the 
British  commander  who.  followed  in  the  track  of  the  Americans 
a  year  later.  The  injustice  done  to  Kendrick  is  but  one  of 
many  similar  instances  ;  the  greatest  of  all  being  that  by  which 
our  continent  itself  bears  the  name,  not  of  Columbus  or  Cabot, 
but  of  a  subsequent  navigator. 

Capt.  Kendrick  during  the  time  occupied  by  Gray  on  his  re- 
turn voyage,  besides  collecting  furs  engaged  in  various  specula- 
tions, one  of  which  was  the  collection  and  transportation  to  China 
of  sandal  wood,  which  grows  on  many  of  the  tropical  islands 
of  the  Pacific,  and  is  in  great  demand  throughout  the  celestial 
empire  for  ornamental  fabrics  and  medicinal  purposes.  The  busi- 
ness has  ever  since  been  prosecuted  by  Americans  with  advantage. 

Capt.  Kendrick  was  killed  in  exchanging  salutes  with  a  Spanish 
vessel  at  the  Sandwich  islands.  The  wad  from  one  of  the  Spaniard's 
guns  struck  him  as  he  stood  on  the  deck  of  his  vessel  in  his 
dress  coat  and  cocked  hat,  as  the  commander  of  the  expedition^ 
and  was  instantly  fatal. 

The  Columbia,  as  has  been  already  stated,  returned  to  Boston 
under  the  command  of  Gray.  Her  cargo  of  Chinese  articles  did  not 
cover  the  expense  of  the  voyage,  nevertheless  her  owner  refitted 
her  for  a  similar  cruise.  Again  under  the  command  of  Gray  she 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  219 

sailed  from  Boston  on  the  28th  of  Sept.,  1790,  and  arrived  at 
Clyoquot,  near  the  straits  of  Fuca,  June  5,  1791.  There,  and 
in  neighboring  waters,  she  remained  through  the  following  summer 
and  winter  trading  with  the  natives  and  exploring.  Early  in  1792 
Gray  took  his  departure  on  a  cruise  southward  along  the  coast, 
bent  on  ascertaining  the  truth  of  the  appearances,  which  on  his 
former  voyage  led  him  to  suspect  the  existence  of  a  river  dis- 
charging its  waters  at  or  about  the  latitude  of  46°.  During  this 
cruise  he  met  with  Vancouver.  On  the  2()th  of  April,  Vancouver 
writes  in  his  journal  :  "At  four  o'clock  a  sail  was  discovered  at 
the  westward  standing  in  shore.  This  was  a  very  great  novelty, 
not  having  seen  any  vessel  but  our  consort  during  the  last  eight 
months.  She  soon  hoisted  American  colors  and  fired  a  gun  to 
leeward.  At  six  we  spoke  her.  She  proved  to  be  the  ship  Co- 
lumbia commanded  by  Capt.  Robert  Gray,  belonging  to  Boston, 
whence  she  had  been  absent  nineteen  months.  I  sent  two  of 
my  officers  on  board  to  acquire  such  information  as  might  be 
serviceable  in  our  future  operations.  Capt.  Gray  informed  them 
of  his  having  been  off  the  mouth  of  a  river,  in  latitude  of  46° 
10'  north,  for  nine  days  ;  but  the  outset  or  reflux  was  so  strong 
as  to  prevent  his  entering." 

Vancouver  gave  little  credit  to  Capt.  Gray's  statements  and 
remarks.  "  I  was  so  thoroughly  persuaded,  as  were  most  per- 
sons of  observation  on  board,  that  we  could  not  have  passed  any 
safe  navigable  opening,  harbor,  or  place  of  security  for  shipping 
from  Cape  Mendecino  to  Luca's  strait." 

After  parting  with  the  English  ship,  Gray  sailed  along  the 
coast  southward,  and  on  the  7th  of  May,  1792,  "saw  an 
entrance  which  had  a  very  good  appearance  of  a  harbor." 
Passing  through  this  entrance,  he  found  himself  in  a  bay  "well 
sheltered  from  the  sea  by  long  sand  bars  and  spits,"  where  he 
remained  three  days  trading  with  the  natives  and  then  resumed 
his  voyage,  bestowing  on  the  place  thus  discovered  the  name  of 
Bulfinch's  harbor,  in  honor  of  one  of  the  owners  of  the  ship. 
This  is  now  known  as  Gray's  harbor. 

At  daybreak  on  the  nth,  after  leaving  Bulfinch's  harbor 
Gray  observed  the  entrance  of  his  desired  port,  bearing  east 
south-east  distant  six  leagues,  and  running  into  it  with  all  sails 
set,  between  the  breakers  he  anchored  at  one  o'clock  in  a  large 


220  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

river  of  fresh  water  ten  miles  above  its  mouth.  At  this  spot  he 
remained  three  days,  engaged  in  trading  with  the  natives,  and 
filling  his  casks  with  water  ;  and  then  sailed  up  the  river  about 
twelve  miles  along  its  northern  shore,  where,  finding  he  could 
proceed  no  farther  from  having  taken  the  wrong  channel,  he 
came  to  anchor.  On  the  2Oth  he  recrossed  the  bar  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  and  regained  the  Pacific. 

On  leaving  the  river,  Gray  gave  it  the  name  of  his  ship,  the 
COLUMBIA,  a  name  it  still  bears.  He  called  the  southern  point  of 
land  at  the  entrance,  Cape  Adams,  and  the  northern  Cape  Han- 
cock. The  first  of  these  capes  retains  its  name  on  the  maps, 
but  the  latter  promontory  is  known  as  Cape  Disappointment,  a 
name  given  to  it  by  Lieut.  Meares  an  English  navigator,  who 
like  Capt.  Gray  judged  from  appearances  there  was  the  outlet 
of  a  river  at  that  point,  but  failed  in  finding  one,  and  recorded 
his  failure  in  the  name  of  this  conspicuous  headland,  which 
marked  the  place  of  his  fruitless  search. 

From  the  mouth  of  Columbia  river,  Gray  sailed  to  Nootka 
sound,  where  he  communicated  his  recent  discoveries  to  the 
Spanish  commandant  Quadra  ;  to  whom  he  also  gave  charts, 
with  descriptions  of  Bulfinch's  harbor  and  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia.  He  departed  for  Canton  in  September,  and  sailed  , 
thence  for  the  United  States. 

A  medal  was  struck  in  commemoration  of  these  events. 
The  voyages  of  Kendrick  and  Gray  were  not  profitable  to 
the  adventurers,  yet  not  fruitless  of  benefit  to  the  country.  They 
opened  the  way  to  subsequent  enterprises  in  the  same  region 
which  were  eminently  successful.  In  another  point  of  view 
these  expeditions  were  fraught  with  consequences  of  the  utmost 
importance.  Gray's  discovery  of  the  Columbia  river  was  the 
point  most  relied  upon  by  our  negociators  subsequently  for  esta- 
blishing the  claim  of  the  United  States  to  the  part  of  the  conti- 
nent through  which  it  flows  :  and  it  is  in  a  great  measure  owing 
to  that  discovery  that  the  growing  state  of  Oregon  is  now  a 
part  of  the  American  republic. 

From  the  date  of  the  discovery  of  the  Columbia  river  to  the 
war  of  1812-14,  the  direct  trade  between  the  American  coast 
and  China  was  almost  entirely  in  the  hands  of  citizens  of  the 
United  States.  The  British  merchants  were  restrained  from 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  221 

pursuing  it  by  the  opposition  of  their  East  India  Company  ;  the 
Russians  were  not  admitted  into  Chinese  ports,  and  few  ships  of 
any  other  nation  were  seen  in  that  part  of  the  ocean.1 

The  whaling  ship  Washington,  of  Nantucket,  it  is  claimed, 
under  command  of  Capt.  George  Bunker,  was  the  first  to  show 
the  American  flag  in  a  Spanish  Pacific  port. 

About  a  year  after  the  Columbia  had  completed  her  voyage 
around  the  world,  in  the  summer  of  1791,  six  ships,  three  of  them 
new,  and  three  old,  were  sent  out  from  Nantucket  to  cruise  for 
whales  in  that  ocean.  All  sailed  under  the  new  born  "Flag  of  the 
free."  The  new  ships  were  the  Bearce,  Hector,  and  Washing- 
ton ;  the  old,  the  Rebecca,  Favorite,  and  Warren.  None  of  them 
exceeded  250  tons  in  burthen,  and  all  were  heavy,  dull  sailers, 
without  copper  on  their  bottoms,  and  poorly  and  scantily  fitted, 
but  they  were  manned  by  men  of  an  iron  nerve,  and  an  energy 
that  knew  no  turning.  They  all  passed  successfully  around 
Cape  Horn,  and  some  went  down  the  coast  while  the  others 
remained  on  the  coast  of  Chili. 

The  Washington  went  to  Callao  on  the  coast  of  Peru,  and 
on  the  4/£  of  July,  1792,  two  months  after  the  discovery 
of  the  Columbia  river  by  Gray,  displayed  the  stars  and  stripes 
in  that  port.  Lying  there  at  the  time  was  an  English  whaling 
vessel,  and  a  French  brig,  both  of  which  were  manned  by  Nan- 
tucket men,  who  assisted  Capt.  Bunker  in  his  commemoration 
of  the  day*  Capt.  B.  had  a  son  with  him,  then  about  fourteen 
years  of  age,  from  whose  recollections  this  reminiscence  is  ob- 
tained. He  died  in  1864,  aged  eighty-six  years. 

FIFTEEN  STARS  AND  FIFTEEN  STRIPES. 
1795  to  1818. 

At  the  beginning  of  1794,  in  consequence  of  the  admission 
of  Vermont,  March  4,  1791,  and  Kentucky,  June  1, 1792,  into 
the  sisterhood  of  the  Union,  an  act  was  passed  increasing  the 
stars  and  stripes  on  our  flag  from  thirteen  to  fifteen,  but  not  to 
take  effect  until  May,  1795. 

The  act  for  this  alteration  originated  in  the  senate,  and  when 
it  came  down  to  the  house,  was  the  occasion  of  considerable 

1  Bulfinch's  Oregon  and  Eldoradoy  and  f^ancou-vc^s  Voyage. 


222  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

debate  and  opposition  illustrating  the  temper  of  the  time  as  well 
as  the  design  of  the  flag. 

"Jan.  7,  1794.     The  house  resolved  itself  into  a  committee 
of  the  whole  house  on  the  bill  sent  from  the  senate  entitled  : 
u  An  act  making  an  alteration  In  the  flag  of  the  United  States.19 

Mr.  Goodhue  thought  it  a  trifling  business  which  ought  not 
to  engross  the  attention  of  the  house,  when  it  was  its  duty  to  dis- 
cuss matters  of  infinitely  greater  consequence.  If  we  alter  the 
flag  from  thirteen  to  fifteen  stripes,  and  two  additional  stars 
because  Vermont  and  Kentucky  have  been  added,  we  may  go 
on  adding  and  altering  at  this  rate  for  one  hundred  years  to  come. 
It  is  very  likely  before  fifteen  years  elapse  we  shall  consist  of 
twenty  states.  The  flag  ought  to  be  permanent." 

In  almost  literal  fulfillment  of  this  opinion,  when  the  flag  was 
remodeled  in  1818,  twenty-four  years  after,  the  new  union  con- 
tained twenty  stars,  representatives  of  as  many  states. 

"  Mr.  Lyman  differed  in  opinion  with  Mr.  Goodhue.  lie 
thought  it  of  the  greatest  importance  not  to  offend  new  states. 

Mr.  Thatcher  ridiculed  the  idea  of  being  at  so  much  trouble 
on  a  consummate  piece  of  frivolity.  At  this  rate  every  state 
should  alter  its  public  seal,  when  an  additional  county  or  town- 
ship was  formed.  He  was  sorry  to  see  the  house  take  up  their 
time  with  such  trifles. 

Mr.  Greenup  considered  it  of  very  great  consequence  to  in- 
form the  rest  of  the  world  we  had  added  two  additional  states. 

Mr.  Niles  was  very  sorry  such  a  matter  should  for  a  moment 
have  hindered  the  house  from  going  into  more  important  mat- 
ters. He  did  not  think  the  alteration  either  worth  the  trouble 
of  adopting  or  rejecting,  but  he  supposed  the  shortest  way  to 
get  rid  of  it  was  to  agree  to  it ;  and  for  that  reason  and  no 
other  he  advised  to  pass  it  as  soon  as  possible. 

The  committee  having  agreed  upon  the  alteration,  the  chair- 
man reported  the  bill,  and  the  house  took  it  up. 

Mr.  Boudlnot  said  he  thought  it  of  consequence  to  keep  the 
citizens  of  Vermont  and  Kentucky  in  good  humor.  They  might 
be  affronted  at  our  rejecting  the  bill. 

Mr.  Goodhue  continuing  his  opposition  said  he  felt  for  the 
honor  of  the  house  when  spending  their  time  in  such  sort 


FLAG  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES.  223 

of  business,1  but  since  it  must  be  passed  he  had  only  to  beg  as 
a  favor  that  it  might  not  appear  upon  the  journal  and  go  into  the 
world  as  the  first  bill  passed  this  session. 

Mr.  Madison  was  for  the  bill  passing. 

Mr.  Giles  thought  it  proper  that  the  idea  should  be  preserved 
of  the  number  of  our  states  and  the  number  of  stripes  corre- 
sponding. The  expense  was  but  trifling  compared  with  that  of 
forming  the  government  of  a  new  state. 

Mr.  Smith  said  that  this  alteration  would  cost  him  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  every  vessel  in  the  Union  sixty  dollars.  He 
could  not  conceive  what  the  senate  meant  by  sending  them 
such  bills.  He  supposed  it  was  for  want  of  something  better  to 
do.  He  should  indulge  them,  but  let  us  have  no  more  altera- 
tions of  the  sort.  Let  the  flag  be  permanent." 

The  bill  thus  debated  was  finally  passed  and  approved  on  the 
1 3th  day  of  Jan.  1794.  It  was  the  first  bill  completed  at  that 
session  of  congress,  and  reads  as  follows : 

"  Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  That  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  May, 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-five,  the  flag  of  the 
United  States  be  fifteen  stripes  alternate  red  and  white,  that 
the  union  be  fifteen  stars,  white  in  a  blue  field." 

The  same  congress  passed  an  act  on  the  2yth  of  March,  1794, 
which  authorized  the  building  of  the  frigate  Constitution  and 
five  other  frigates,  the  commencement  of  a  new  navy.  The 
new  flag  floated  over  her  and  all  of  them,  throughout  the  war  of 
1812-14. 

When  Mr.  Munroe,  the  United  States  minister,  presented  his 
credentials  on  the  I4th  of  August,  1 794,  to  the  French  republic,  and 
communicated  to  the  national  convention  the  wish  of  his  fellow- 
citizens  for  the  prosperity  of  the  nation,  the  convention,  on  the 
report  of  the  committee  of  public  safety  to  whom  his  credentials 
had  been  referred,  decreed  that  he  should  be  introduced  into  the 
bosom  of  the  convention,  and  the  president  should  give  him  the 
fraternal  embrace,  as  a  symbol  of  the  friendship  which  united 
the  American  and  French  people. 

In  the  national  convention  August  I5th,  1794,  the  discussions 
on  the  organization  of  the  several  committees  were  commenced^ 

What  would  he  say  to  the  business  habits  of  our  modern  congresses,  and  the  time 
wasted  in  frivolous  debates  and  buncombe  speeches. 


224  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

but  the  deliberation  was  soon  after  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  the 
minister  plenipotentiary  from  the  United  States.  He  was  con- 
ducted into  the  centre  of  the  hall,  and  the  secretary  read  the 
translation  of  his  discourse  and  credential  letters,  signed  by 
George  Washington,  president  of  the  United  States,  and  Ed- 
mund Randolph,  secretary  of  state,  at  Philadelphia,  May  28th. 
The  reading  of  this  was  accompanied  by  repeated  shouts  of 
"  Vive  la  Republique  !  Vive  les  Republiques !  and  unusual 
acclamations  of  applause."  The  discourse  which  was  ordered 
to  be  printed  in  the  French  and  American  languages  was  in 
part  as  follows  : 

"Among  other  things  Mr,  Munroe  observed  that  as  a  certain 
proof  of  the  great  desire  of  his  countrymen  for  the  freedom, 
prosperity,  and  happiness  of  the  French  republic,  he  assured  them 
that  the  continental  congress  had  requested  the  president  to  make 
known  to  them  this  sentiment,  and  while  acting  agreeably  to  the 
desire  of  the  two  houses,  the  president  enjoined  him  to  declare 
the  congeniality  of  his  sentiment  with  theirs." 

The  secretary  then  read  the  letter  of  credentials,  when  the 
president  of  the  convention  replied  to  this  effect : 

"The  French  people  have  never  forgotten  that  they  owe  to  the 
Americans  the  imitation  of  liberty.  They  admired  the  sublime 
insurrection  of  the  American  people  against  Albion  of  old  so  proud 
and  now  so  disgraced.  They  sent  their  armies  to  assist  the  Ameri- 
cans, and  in  strengthening  the  independence  of  that  country, 
the  French,  at  the  same  time,  learned  to  break  the  sceptre  of 
their  own  tyranny  and  erect  a  statue  of  liberty  on  the  ruins  of  a 
throne  founded  upon  the  corruption  and  the  crimes  of  four 
score  centuries." 

The  president  proceeded  to  remark  "  that  the  alliance  between 
the  two  republics  was  not  merely  a  diplomatic  transaction,  but 
an  alliance  of  cordial  friendship."  He  hoped  that  this  alliance 
would  be  indissoluble,  and  prove  the  scourge  of  tyrants,  and  the 
protection  of  the  rights  of  man.  He  observed  how  differently 
an  American  ambassador  would  have  been  received  in  France 
six  years  before,  by  the  usurper  of  the  liberty  of  the  people  ;  and 
how  much  merit  he  would  have  claimed  for  having  graciously 
condescended  to  take  the  United  States  under  his  protection.  "At 
this  day  "  he  said  "  it  is  the  sovereign  people  itself,  represented  by  its 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  225 

faithful  deputies,  that  receives  the  ambassador  with  real  attach- 
ment, while  affected  mortality  (?)  is  at  an  end."  He  longed  to 
crown  it  with  the  fraternal  embrace.  "  I  am  charged,"  said  he, 
"  to  give  it  in  the  name  of  the  nation.  Come  and  receive  it  in  the 
name  of  the  American  nation,  and  let  this  scene  destroy  the  last 
hope  of  the  impious  coalition  of  tyrants." 

The  president  then  gave  the  fraternal  kiss  and  embrace  to  the 
minister,  and  declared  that  he  recognized  James  Monroe  in  this 
quality. 

"It  was  then  decreed,  on  the  motion  of  Mons.  Bayle,  that  the 
colors  of  both  nations  should  be  suspended  at  the  vault  of  the 
hall  as  a  sign  of  perpetual  alliance  and  union."  The  minister 
took  his  seat  on  the  mountain  on  the  left  of  the  president,  and 
received  the  fraternal  kiss  from  several  deputies.  The  sitting 
of  the  convention  was  suspended. 

On  the  25  Fructidor  (Sept.  25th)  about  a  month  after  this 
scene,  the  President  "  BERNARD  of  Saints"  announced  to  the 
convention  the  receipt  of  a  stand  of  colors  by  the  hands  of  an 
officer  of  the  United  States  from  the  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the 
United  States  to  be  placed  in  the  hall  of  the  national  convention 
at  the  side  of  the  French  colors,  accompanied  by  the  following 
letter : 

"  The  Minister  of  the  United  States  of  America  to  the  President  of 
the  National  Convention. 

"  CITIZEN  PRESIDENT  :  The  convention  having  decreed  that 
the  colors  of  the  American  and  French  republics  should  be  united 
and  stream  together  in  the  place  of  its  sittings,  as  a  testimony 
of  the  union  and  friendship  which  ought  to  subsist  forever  be- 
tween the  two  nations,  I  thought  that  I  could  not  better  manifest 
the  deep  impression  which  this  decree  has  made  on  me  and  ex- 
press the  thankful  sensations  of  my  constituents,  than  by  procur- 
ing their  colors  to  be  carefully  executed,  and  in  offering  them  in 
the  name  of  the  American  people  to  the  representatives  of  the 
French  nation. 

"  I  have  had  them  made  in  the  form  lately  decreed  by  congress 
[15  stripes  and  15  stars]  and  have  trusted  them  to  Captain  Barney^ 
an  officer  of  distinguished  merit,  who  has  rendered  us  great  services 
by  sea,  in  the  course  of  our  revolution.  He  is  charged  to  pre- 
sent and  to  deposit  them  on  the  spot  which  you  shall  judge  proper 
29 


226  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

to  appoint  for  them.  Accept,  citizen  president,  this  standard 
as  a  new  pledge  of  the  sensibility  with  which  the  American  people 
always  receive  the  interest  and  friendship  which  their  good  and 
brave  allies  give  them ;  as  also  of  the  pleasure  and  ardor  with 
which  they  seize  every  opportunity  of  cementing  and  consolidat- 
ing the  union  and  good  understanding  between  the  two  nations." 

Captain  Barney  being  ordered  to  be  admitted  entered  the  bar 
with  the  standard  amidst  universal  shouts  of  applause  which 
also  accompanied  the  reading  of  Mr.  Monroe's  letter. 

In  delivering  the  standard,  Gapt.  Barney  said: 

"  CITIZEN  PRESIDENT  :  Having  been  directed  by  the  minister 
plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States  of  America  to  present  the 
national  convention  the  flag  asked  of  him,  the  flag  under  the 
auspices  of  which  I  have  had  the  honor  to  fight  against  our 
common  enemy  during  the  war  which  has  assured  liberty  and 
independence,  I  discharge  the  duty  with  the  most  lively  satisfac- 
tion, and  deliver  it  to  you.  Henceforth  suspended  on  the  side 
of  that  of  the  French  republic,  it  will  become  the  symbol 
of  the  union  which  subsists  between  the  two  nations,  and  last, 
I  hope,  as  long  as  the  freedom  which  they  have  so  bravely  ac- 
quired and  so  wisely  consolidated." 

A  member  said :  "  The  citizen  who  has  just  spoke  at  the  bar, 
is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  sea  officers  of  America.  He 
has  rendered  great  service  to  the  liberty  of  his  country,  and  he 
could  render  the  same  to  the  liberty  of  France.  I  demand  that 
this  observation  be  referred  to  the  examination  of  the  committee 
of  public  safety,  and  that  the  fraternal  embrace  be  given  to  this 
brave  officer." 

This  proposition  was  received  with  applause.  Several  voices 
cried :  "The  fraternal  embrace,"  which  was  decreed, and  Barney 
went  up  to  the  chair  of  the  president,  and  received  the  fraternal 
embrace,  amidst  unanimous  acclamation  and  applause.  The 
fraternal  embrace  consisted  of  a  hug,  and  a  kiss  upon  each  cheek. 
A  member  arose  in  his  place  (a  Matthieu)  and  proposed  that  their 
new  brother  citoyen  Barney,  should  be  employed  in  the  navy  of  the 
republic.  The  resolution  passed  unanimously,  but  Barney  was  at 
the  time,  from  his  other  engagements,  obliged  to  decline  the  honor. 
Subsequently  he  received  and  accepted  the  rank  of  capitaine  de 
vaisseau  du  premier^  and  a  commission  as  chef  de  division  des 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  227 

armees  navales,   answering  to  the  rank  of  commodore  in  our 
service. 

When  the  grand  ceremony  decreed    by  the  national  conven- 
tion, to  honor  the  memory  of  yean  Jacques  Rousseau  on  depositing 
his  remains  in  the  Pantheon  took  place,  Mr.  Monroe  and  all  the 
Americans  at  Paris  were  especially  invited  to  be  present.     The 
whole  population  of  Paris  united  in  one  moving  mass  to  honor  them. 
The  urn  containing  the  ashes  of  Jean  Jacques  was  placed  on  a 
platform  erected  over  the  centre  of  the  basin  of  the  principal^ 
d'eau  in  the  Garden  of  the  Tuileries,  where  it  remained  until  the 
procession  was  formed,  and  prepared  to  advance  ;  it  was  then 
taken  down,  and  surrounded  by  all  the  trappings  of  mourning, 
removed  to  the  place  assigned  it  in  the  procession.   The  American 
minister,  and  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  who  accompanied 
him,  were  placed  immediately  in  front  of  the  members  of  the 
national  convention,  who  appeared  in  official  costumes.      The 
American  Flag^  so  recently  presented  to  the  convention  by  Mr. 
Monroe,  borne  by  Capt.  Barney  and  a  nephew  of  Mr.  Monroe, 
preceded  the  column  of  Americans,  an  honor  to  which  the  national 
convention  itself  appointed  them.     A  tricolored  cordon,  supported 
by  the  orphan   sons  of  revolutionary  soldiers,  "  les  eleves  de  la 
nation"  crossed  the  front,  and  led  down  each  flank  of  the  two 
columns  composed  of  Americans  and  the  members  of  the  national 
convention.     These  youths  were  all  dressed  in  blue  jackets  and 
trowsers,  and  scarlet  vests,  and  were  several  hundreds  in  number. 
The  procession  moved  from  the  Palace  of  the  Tuileries  down 
the  principal  avenue  of  the  garden,  to  the  Place  de  la  Revolution. 
thence,  by  the  boulevards,  through  Rue    St.    Honor'e  and   other 
principal  streets,  to  the  Pont  Neufand  thence  to  the  Pantheon. 
The   windows   of  every  house  from  top   to  bottom,  on   either 
hand,  throughout  the  whole  extent  of  the  march,  were  crowded 
with  full  dressed  females  waving  their  handkerchiefs  and  small 
tricolored  flags  —  while  from  every  story  of  each  house  a  large 
flag  of  the  same  description  permanently  projected.     The  distance 
from  the  Palace  of  the  Tuileries  to  the  Pantheon,  computing  the 
meandering  of  the  procession,  was  about  two  miles.     Arrived  at 
the  Pantheon,  Mr    Monroe  and  his  suite  were  the  only  persons 
permitted  to  enter  the  national  convention,  to  witness  the  con- 
clusion of  the  ceremonv.1 


1  Life  of  Commodore  Joshua  Barney. 


228  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

It  is  a  little  singular,  after  all  these  ceremonies,  that  Mr. 
Monroe  should  have  omitted  to  make  any  mention  of  them  in 
his  official  dispatches.  In  a  postscript  to  a  dispatch  to  the 
secretary  of  state  dated  March  6,  I795,1  six  months  after  these 
occurrences,  he  says  he  had"  forgotten  to  notify  him  officially  of 
his  having  presented  the  French  national  convention  with  our 
flag,"  and  adds  :  u  It  was  done  in  consequence  of  an  order  of  its 
body,  for  its  suspension  in  its  halls,  and  an  intimation  from  the 
president  himself,  that  they  had  none,  and  were  ignorant  of  the 
model." 

In  return,  on  the  ist  of  January,  1796^  the  minister  of  the 
French  republic  to  the  United  States  presented  the  colors  of 
France3  to  the  United  States,  and  addressed  the  president  as 
follows : 

u  MR.  PRESIDENT  :  I  come  to  acquit  myself  of  a  duty  very  dear 
to  my  heart.  I  come  to  deposit  in  your  hands,  and  in  the 
midst  of  a  people  justly  renowned  for  their  courage  and  their 
love  of  liberty,  the  symbol  of  the  triumphs  and  of  the  enfran- 
chisement of  my  nation. 

******* 
The  national  convention,  the  organ  of  the  will  of  the  French 
nation,  have  more  than  once  expressed  their  sentiments  to  the 
American  people ;  but  above  all,  these  burst  forth  on  that  au- 
gust day,  when  the  minister  of  the  United  States  presented  to 

1  American  State  Papers,  vol.  I,  1832  Ed.,  p.  698. 

2  Washington  received  a  communication  from  the  French  minister  on  the  2zd  of 
December  and  proposed  to  receive  the  colors  on  the   ist  day  of  the  new  year,  a  day 
of  general  joy  and  congratulation. 

3  These  colors  were  the    tricolor    which  had    been    established  by  the  following 
decree,  and  succeeded  the  colors,  etc.,    decreed   by  the  national  assembly,  October 
21,  1790,  and  were  hoisted  over  the  fleet  at  Brest  with  ceremonies  and  festivity, 
January   ji,    1791. 

February  I5th,  1793.  The  national  convention  of  France,  in  consequence  of 
the  report  of  St.  Andre,  passed  the  following  decree  : 

ist.  The  maritime  flag  decreed  by  the  national  constitutional  assembly  is  suppressed. 

2d.  The  national  flag  shall  henceforth  be  formed  of  the  three  national  colors 
disposed  in  three  equal  bands,  put  in  a  vertical  direction,  in  such  a  manner  that  the 
blue  be  affixed  to  the  staff  of  the  flag,  the  white  in  the  middle,  and  the  red  floating 
in  the  air. 

3d.  The  flag  called  the  jack,  and  the  flag  on  the  stern  of  the  ships,  shall  be  dis- 
posed in  the  same  manner,  observing  the  usual  proportion  of  size. 

4th.  The  streamers  (pennants)  shall  likewise  be  formed  of  three  colors}  of  which 
one-fifth  shall  be  blue,  one-fifth  white,  and  three-fifths  red. 

5th.  The  national  flag  shall  be  hoisted  in  all  the  ships  of  the  republic  on  the  2Oth 
of  May  :  and  the  minister  of  marine  shall  give  the  necessary  orders  for  that  purpose. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  229 

the  national  representation,  the  colors  of  his  country.  De- 
siring never  to  lose  recollections  so  dear  to  Frenchmen,  as 
they  must  be  to  Americans,  the  convention  ordered  that  these 
colors  should  be  placed  in  the  hall  of  their  sittings.  They  had 
experienced  sensations  too  agreeable  not  to  cause  them  to  be 
partaken  of  by  their  allies,  and  decreed  that  to  them  the  na- 
tional colors  should  be  presented. 

"  Mr.  President :  I  do  not  doubt  their  expectations  will  be  ful- 
filled, and  lam  convinced  that  every  citizen  will  receive,  with 
pleasing  emotion,  this  flag,  elsewhere  the  terror  of  the  enemies 
of  liberty,  here  the  certain  pledge  of  faithful  friendship ;  espe- 
cially when  they  recollect  that  it  guides  to  combat  men  who 
have  shared  their  toils,  and  who  were  prepared  for  liberty,  by 
aiding  them  to  acquire  their  own." 

General  Washington,  in  his  reply  the  same  day  to  this 
address,  after  expressing  his  congratulations  on  the  formation 
and  establishment  of  the  French  republic,  said  :  u  I  receive, 
sir,  with  lively  sensibility,  the  symbol  of  the  triumphs  and  of 
the  enfranchisement  of  your  nation,  the  colors  of  France,  which 
you  have  now  presented  to  the  United  States.  The  transac- 
tion will  be  announced  to  congress,  and  the  colors  will  be 
deposited  with  those  archives  of  the  United  States,  which  are 
at  once  the  evidence  and  the  memorial  of  their  freedom  and 
independence.  May  these  be  perpetual !  and  may  the  friendship 
of  the  two  republics  be  commensurate  with  their  existence."1 

The  house  proceeded  at  once  to  consider  the  above,  and 

u  Resolved^  unanimously^  That  the  president  be  requested  to 
make  known  to  the  representatives  of  the  French  people,  that  this 
house  had  received  with  the  most  sincere  and  lively  sensibility  the 
communication  of  the  committee  of  public  safety,  dated  the  2ist  of 
October,  1794,  accompanied  with  the  colors  of  the  French  repub- 
lic ;  and  to  assure  them,  that  the  presentation  of  the  colors  of  the 
French  republic  to  the  congress  of  the  United  States  is 
deemed  the  most  honorable  testimonial  of  the  existing  sympa- 
thies and  affections  of  the  two  republics  founded  upon  their 
solid  and  reciprocal  interests  ;  and  that  this  house  rejoices  in 
the  opportunity  thereby  afforded,  to  congratulate  the  French 

^American  State  Papers,  3d  ed.,  vol.  n,  page  100. 


230  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

nation  upon  the  brilliant  and  glorious  achievements,  which  have 
been  accomplished  under  their  influence,  during  the  present 
afflicting  war  ;  and  confidently  hopes  that  those  achievements 
will  be  attended  with  the  perfect  attainment  of  their  object ; 
the  permanent  establishment  of  the  liberties  and  happiness  of 
a  great  and  magnanimous  people." 

Mr.  Giles  and  Mr.  Smith  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
wait  upon  the  president  with  this  resolution.1 

Mr.  Adet,  the  French  minister  to  the  United  States,  was  not 
satisfied  with  this  disposition  of  the  tricolor,  and  nine  days  later 
writes  to  Mr.  Pickering,  secretary  of  state,  thus  :  "  When  the 
national  convention  decreed  that  the  French  flag  should  be 
presented  by  its  minister  to  the  United  States,  there  was  but  one 
opinion  as  to  the  place  in  which  it  should  be  deposited.  A  de- 
cree had  placed  yours  in  the  hall  of  the  legislative  body.  Every 
one  thought  that  the  French  flag  would  with  you  receive  the 
same  honor  ;  all  my  fellow  citizens  have,  one  after  another, 
contemplated  that  pledge  of  your  friendship,  and  each  one  be- 
lieved that  the  Americans  would  also  have  the  some  eagerness 
to  view  the  symbol  of  the  enfranchisement  of  a  friendly  nation, 
who  like  them  had  purchased  their  liberty  at  the  price  of  blood. 
This  expectation  has  not  been  fulfilled,  and  it  has  been  decided 
that  the  French  flag  shall  be  shut  up  among  the  archives. 
Whatever  may  be  the  expression  of  friendship  in  the  answer 
of  the  president,  however  amicable,  also,  are  the  resolutions  of 
the  house  of  representatives,  I  cannot  doubt,  sir,  that  the  order 
made  for  preserving  a  flag  which  the  republic  sent  only  to  the 
United  States,  will  be  looked  upon  by  it  as  a  mark  of  contempt 
or  indifference.  Pride,  sir,  you  know,  is  the  portion  of  a  free 
people  ;  and  it  is  never  wounded  but  at  the  expense  of  friend- 
ship. The  present  circumstances  are  extremely  delicate  ;  and 
when  I  am  convinced  the  American  government  had  no  inten- 
tion of  leading  the  French  republic  to  think  that  the  gift  of  her 
flag  is  worth  nothing  in  its  eyes,  should  it  not  give  her  authentic 
proof  of  it  ?  Would  it  not  be  convenient  to  fix  this  flag  in  a 
similar  place  to  that  which  yours  occupies  in  France,  and  where 
the  national  honor  expected  to  see  it  ?" 


1  American  State  Papers,  3d  ed.,  vol.  n,  p.    100. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  231 

Mr.  Pickering  in  his  reply,  dated  Jan.  I5th,  1796,  regrets  that 
the  real  and  essential  friendship  of  two  free  people  should  be 
wounded  by  a  circumstance  of  this  kind,  resulting  from  the  dif- 
ferent ideas  they  entertain  of  the  mode  most  proper  for  preserv- 
ing the  sign  of  their  liberty,  and  of  the  victories  and  triumphs  by 
which  it  was  acquired,  and  calls  to  mind  that  the  representatives 
of  the  French  people  assembled  in  one  room,  and  that  their  own 
colors  were  exhibited  there,  when  it  was  decreed  the  colors  of 
the  United  States  should  be.  That  on  the  contrary  the  peo- 
ple of  the  United  States  were  represented  by  the  president  or 
executive,  the  senate,  and  the  house  of  representatives,  the 
president  being  the  'sole'  constitutional  organ  of  communication 
with  foreign  nations.  "  When  therefore  the  colors  of  France 
were  delivered  to  the  president,  they  were  in  the  only  proper 
manner  presented  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
for  whom  the  president  is  the  only  constitutional  depositary  of 
foreign  communications.  Of  these,  the  president  transmits  to 
the  two  houses  of  congress  such  as  he  thinks  proper  for  their 
information  ;  and  thus  the  colors  of  France  were  exhibited  to 
their  view.  But  the  United  States  have  never  made  a  public 
display  of  their  own  colors,  except  in  their  ships,  and  in  their 
military  establishments."  "  Under  these  circumstances,  what 
honor  could  be  shown  to  the  colors  of  France  more  respectful 
than  to  deposit  them  with  the  evidences  and  memorials  of  our 
own  freedom  and  independence  ?  If  to  the  United  States  only 
the  colors  of  France  have  been  presented,  I  answer  that  the 
colors  of  France  alone  have  been  deposited  with  our  national  ar- 
chives, that  both  may  be  preserved  with  equal  care."  He  closes 
with  this  following  dignified  rebuke  of  the  minister  dictating 
the  proper  place  for  the  deposit  of  the  French  flag.  "  I  must 
also  remark,  that  the  people  of  the  United  States  exhibited  no- 
where in  their  deliberative  assemblies,  any  public  spectacles  as 
the  tokens  of  their  victories,  the  symbols  of  their  triumphs,  or 
the  monuments  of  their  freedom.  Understanding  in  what  true 
liberty  consists,  contented  with  its  enjoyment,  and  knowing  how 
to  preserve  it,  they  reverence  their  own  customs,  while  they  re- 
spect those  of  their  sister  republic.  This  I  conceive,  sir,  is  the 
way  to  maintain  peace  and  good  harmony  between  France  and 
the  United  States  and  not  by  demanding  an  adoption  of  the  man- 


232  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

ners  of  the  other  :  in  these  we  must  be  mutually  free."  "This 
explanation,  sir,  I  hope  will  be  satisfactory  to  you  and  to  your 
government,  and  in  concurrence  with  the  manner  of  receiving 
the  French  colors,  and  the  unanimous  sentiments  of  affection 
and  good  wishes  expressed  on  the  occasion  by  the  president, 
the  senate,  and  the  house  of  representatives,  effectually  repel 
every  idea  that  could  wound  the  friendship  subsisting  between 
the  two  nations."  * 

As  everything  connected  with  the  old  frigate  Constitution,  of 
glorious  memories  and  victories,  and  which  still  exists  to  stimu- 
late the  patriotism  of  our  naval  aspirants  is  of  interest,  we 
are  glad  to  be  able  to  record  the  name  of  the  person  who  first 
hoisted  our  flag  over  her,  little  imagining  the  glorious  history  she 
would  make  for  it.  Though  her  keel  was  laid  in  1794,  she  was 
not  launched  until  Oct.  21,  1797.  It  was  intended  she  should  be 
the  first  vessel  of  the  new  and  permanent  navy.  But  two  of  the 
six  frigates  ordered  to  be  built  were  launched  before  her,  viz.  : 
The  United  States  launched  July  10,  1797,  and  destroyed  at 
Norfolk,  April  20,  1861  ;  and  the  Constellation  launched  Sept.  7, 
1797,  and  now  represented  by  a  new  ship  bearing  the  same  name. 

The  Constitution,  better  known  perhaps  as  Old  Ironsides, 
has  been  often  repaired  and  rebuilt,  but  remains  of  the  same 
model,  and  is  of  the  same  tonnage  and  general  appearance  as 
when  built.  She  was  modelled  by  Joshua  Humphries,  and  built 
by  George  Claghorne  and  Mr.  Hartley  of  Boston. 

When  she  was  ready  to  be  launched,  Commodore  Nichol- 
son, who  had  the  charge  and  superintendence  of  her  construc- 
tion, left  the  ship  yard  to  get  his  breakfast,  leaving  express 
orders  not  to  hoist  any  flag  over  her  until  his  return,  intend- 
ing to  reserve  that  honor  to  himself.  Among  the  workmen 
upon  her  was  a  shipwright  and  caulker  named  Samuel  Bentley, 
who  with  the  assistance  of  another  workman  named  Harris,  bent 
on  and  hoisted  the  stars  and  stripes  during  the  commodore's 
absence.  When  the  commodore  returned  and  saw  our  flag 
contrary  to  his  orders  floating  over  her,  he  was  very  wrathy, 

1  American  State  Papers,  Gales  and  Seaton,  1832,  vol.  i,  p.  656.  This  same  cap- 
tious Frenchman  a  few  months  later  made  official  complaint,  that  the  Philadelphia  Di- 
rectory for  1796  gave  precedence  on  its  list  of  foreign  ministers  to  the  minister  of 
Great  Britain  over  those  of  France  and  Spain.  Mr.  Pickering  of  course  replies,  the 
United  States  has  no  control  over  the  publication  of  almanacs  and  directories. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  233 

and  expressed  himself  in  words  more  strong  than  polite  to  the 
offending  workmen.  Could  he  have  foreseen  the  future  of  the 
noble  frigate  he  would  have  been  still  more  excited  at  Bentley's 
little  coup  tfetat.  He  had,  however,  the  satisfaction  of  being  the 
first  to  command  her,  and  we  know  she  was  the  first  of  the 
new  frigates  to  carry  the  fifteen  stars  and  fifteen  stripes  under 
canvas  upon  the  deep  blue  sea.  Bentley  died  in  Boston,  in  1852. 

The  fifteen  stars  and  fifteen  stripes  were  worn  by  the  Consti- 
tution before  Tripoli  and  throughout  the  war  of  1812.  It  was 
the  flag  worn  by  the  Constellation  in  her  actions  with  Plnsur- 
gente  and  La  Vengeance,  the  flag  that  waved  over  Derne,  the 
flag  of  Lake  Erie  and  of  New  Orleans,  and  of  our  naval  victo- 
ries on  the  Atlantic,  and  which  was  carried  around  both  Cape 
Horn  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  in  the  Essex,  the  first  United 
States  vessel  of  war  to  show  a  pennant  beyond  either. 

On  the  6th  of  January,  1800,  the  Essex  sailed  from  New 
York  for  Batavia  in  company  with  the  Congress.  When  six 
days  out  the  Congress  was  dismasted,  and  the  Essex  having  lost 
sight  of  her  and  knowing  nothing  of  the  disaster  proceeded  on 
her  voyage  alone. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  1800,  she  doubled  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  on  her  outward  voyage,  and  on  the  27th  of  August,  1800, 
repassed  it  after  a  tempestuous  passage  on  her  return  home,  and 
was  thus  the  first  vessel  of  the  United  States  navy  to  pass  and 
repass  that  stormy  barrier,  rightly  named  by  its  discoverer 
"  Cabo  de  las  Tormentas."  It  was  also  the  good  fortune  of 
the  Essex  under  Commodore  David  Porter  on  her  last  and  most 
celebrated  cruise  to  be  the  first  vessel  of  our  navy  to  pass 
around  Cape  Horn.  The  Essex  left  St.  Catharine's,  Brazil,  on 
the  26th  of  Jan.,  1813,  passed  the  cape  on  the  I4th  of  Feb., 
and  after  a  most  stormy  and  tempestuous  time  in  weathering  it 
encountered  a  pleasant  south-west  breeze  in  the  Pacific  ocean 
on  the  5th,  and  arrived  off  Valparaiso  on  the  I3th  of  March, 
where  she  anchored  on  the  I5th  of  the  same  month. 

The  cape    was  made    on  the   I4th  of  February    under  the 

promising  auspicies  of  a  tolerably  clear  horizon,  a  moderate  wind 

from  the  westward  and  a  bright  sun.     Every  man  was  exulting 

in  their  escape  from  the  dreaded  terrors  of  Cape  Horn  when 

30 


234  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

suddenly  a  tempest  burst  upon  the  ship  which  raised  an  irregular 
and  dangerous  sea,  and  reduced  her  flowing  canvas  to  storm 
staysails.  Storm  succeeded  storm,  with  intervals  of  deceitful 
calm,  which  encouraged  the  making  of  sail,  and  added  to  the 
labor  of  the  hard  working  crew,  who  were  immediately  forced 
to  reef  again  to  meet  the  coming  blast. 

On  the  last  day  of  February  being  in  latitude  50°  S.,  Capt.  Por- 
ter, as  his  ship  glided  on  a  smooth  sea  before  a  moderate  breeze 
congratulated  himself  upon  the  cheering  prospect  and  made  pre- 
parations for  fine  weather,  thinking  the  dangers  and  disagreeable 
attendants  of  a  passage  around  the  cape  all  over.  The  wind, 
however,  soon  freshened  to  a  gale  and  blew  with  a  fury 
exceeding  anything  before  experienced  during  the  voyage.  It 
was  hoped  from  the  excessive  violence  of  the  wind,  that  it 
would  soon  blow  out  its  strength.  This  hope  failing,  all  on 
board,  worn  out  with  fatigue  and  anxiety,  alarmed  by  the  terrors 
of  a  lee-shore,  and  in  momentary  expectation  of  the  loss  of  the 
masts  and  bowsprit,  began  to  consider  their  safety  hopeless. 
The  ship  with  her  water-ways  gaping  and  her  timbers  separat- 
ing widely  from  the  heavy  and  continued  straining  to  which 
she  had  been  so  long  exposed,  now  made  a  great  deal  of  water 
and  to  add  to  the  fearfulness  of  the  danger,  the  pumps  had  be- 
come choked.  The  sea  meantime  had  arisen  to  a  great  height, 
threatening  to  swallow  the  ship  at  every  roll.  For  two  days 
the  storm  continued  unabated,  but  as  the  good  ship  had  resisted 
its  violence,  "  to  the  astonishment  of  all  without  receiving 
any  considerable  injury,"  it  was  hoped  from  her  excellent 
qualities  she  might  be  able  to  weather  the  storm.  Before  the 
third  day  had  passed,  however,  an  enormous  sea  broke  over  the 
ship,  and  for  an  instant  destroyed  all  hope.  The  gundeck  ports 
were  burst  in,  both  boats  on  the  quarter  stove,  the  spare  spars 
washed  from  the  chains,  the  head  rails  swept  away,  the  ham- 
mock stanchion  crushed,  and  the  ship  perfectly  deluged  and 
water-logged.  One  man,  an  old  sailor,  the  boatswain,  who  had 
been  taken  from  the  English  packet,  was  so  appalled  that  he 
cried  out  in  his  despair  that  the  ship's  broadside  was  stove  in, 
and  that  she  was  sinking.  The  alarm  ran  throughout  the  vessel, 
and  was  caught  up  by  those  below,  who  deluged  by  the  torrents 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  235 

of  water  rushing  down  the  hatchways,  and  swept  by  huge  seas 
out  of  their  hammocks,  and  from  the  spar  to  the  gun-deck,  re- 
echoed the  alarm  of  those  above,  for  they  all  believed  that  the 
Essex  was  about  to  plunge  forever  into  the  depths  of  the  ocean. 
The  men  at  the  wheel,  however,  who  were  only  able  to  keep 
to  their  post  by  clinging  with  all  their  might,  distinguished  them- 
selves by  their  cool  intrepidity,  and  were  rewarded  by  Capt. 
Porter  after  the  storm  by  advancement  in  rank,  while  the  others 
who  shrunk  from  the  terrors  of  the  scene  were  rebuked  for  their 
timidity. 

Leaving  this  tempestuous  weather  behind,  the  Essex  quickly 
passed  the  inhospitable  coasts  of  Patagonia  and  Lower  Chili,  and 
sailed  into  smoother  seas  and  fine  pleasant  weather. 

The  present  revenue  flag  of  the  United.  States  was  created 
by  the  act,  congress  approving,  of  March  2,  1799,  which  reads 
as  follows  : 

"SECTION  102.  And  be  it  further  enacted:  That  the  cutters 
and  boats  employed  in  the  service  of  the  revenue,  shall  be  dis- 
tinguished from  other  vessels,  by  an  ensign  and  pendant,  with 
such  marks  thereon  as  shall  be  prescribed  and  directed  by  the 
president  of  the  United  States  ;  and  in  case  any  ship  or  vessel 
liable  to  seizure  or  examination  shall  not  bring  to,  on  being  re- 
quired, or  being  chased  by  any  cutter  or  boat  having  displayed  the 
pendant  and  ensign  prescribed  for  vessels  in  the  revenue  service 
it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  captain,  master,  or  other  person  having 
command  of  such  cutter  or  boat  to  fire  at  or  into  such  vessel 
which  shall  not  bring  to,  after  such  pendant  and  ensign  shall  be 
hoisted,  and  a  gun  shall  have  been  fired  by  such  cutter  or  boat 
as  a  signal  and  such  captain,  master,  or  other  person  as  afore- 
said, and  all  persons  acting  by  or  under  his  directions  shall  be 
idemnified  from  any  penalties  or  actions  for  damages  for  so 
doing ;  and  if  any  person  shall  be  killed  or  wounded  by  such 
firing,  and  the  captain  or  master  or  other  person  aforesaid 
shall  be  prosecuted  and  arrested  therefor,  such  captain,  mas- 
ter or  other  person,  shall  be  forthwith  admitted  to  bail.  And 
if  any  ship,  vessel,  or  boat  not  employed  in  the  service  of  the 
revenue,  shall  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States, 
carry  or  hoist  any  ensign  or  pendant  prescribed  for  vessels  in 


236  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

the  service  aforesaid,  the  master  or  commander  of  the  ship  or 
vessel  so  offending  shall  forfeit  and  pay  one  hundred  dollars." 

Agreeably  to  this  act  the  secretary  of  the  treasury  in  a  circu- 
lar, dated  August  I,  1799,  prescribed  the  revenue  flag  as  follows : 

"  The  ensign  and  pendant  directed  by  the  president  under  the 
act  of  2d  of  March,  1799,  consists  of  sixteen  perpendicular  stripes 
alternate  red  and  white,  the  union  of  the  ensign  bearing  the  arms 
of  the  United  States  in  dark  blue  on  a  white  field  "(see  plate  I.) 

The  stripes  represent  the  number  of  states  admitted  to  the 
union  at  the  date  when  the  flag  was  adopted  and  the  whole 
ensign  has  undergone  no  change  since.  In  1871,  thirteen  blue 
stars  in  a  white  field  were  substituted  for  the  eagle  in  the  union 
of  the  pendant. 

Whenever  the  revenue  vessels  are  employed  beyond  our  coast, 
or  in  conjunction  with  the  navy,  it  is  the  practice  for  them  to 
wear  the  national  in  place  of  their  usual  revenue  ensign. 

The  revenue  ensign  is  always  displayed  over  the  custom 
houses  of  the  United  States  and  other  buildings  appertaining  to 
the  treasury  department  of  the  United  States. 

The  flag  of  fifteen  stars  and  fifteen  stripes  was  also  the  first 
American  flag  planted  upon  a  fortress  of  the  old  world.  On 
the  27th  of  April,  1805,  Lieut.  O'Bannon  of  the  Marines  and 
Mr.  Mann  hauled  down  the  Tripolitan  colors  displayed  over  the 
Fortress  of  Derne,  and  unfolded  "  our  flag  "  in  their  place. 

The  honor  of  having  first  displayed  our  flag  in  the  oriental 
city  of  Smyrna  is  claimed  by  Mr.  John  Lee,  in  a  letter  to  a 
naval  friend,  dated  1837.  He  says  :  "In  1797  I  waved  (not 
personally  to  be  sure,  but  I  caused  to  be  waved)  on  board  the 
American  vessel  Ann  of  Boston,  Capt.  Daniel  Sawyer,  the 
American  starry  flag,  the  first  that  appeared  in  Smyrna,  and  just 
after  a  greater  part  of  the  city,  my  house  among  the  rest,  had 
been  burnt.  She  came  hither  in  127  days  from  the  Danish  set- 
tlement of  Tranquebar  on  the  Coromandel  coast,  and  brought 
to  my  house  a  valuable  cargo,  which  I  sold  to  a  good  profit." 

Our  flag  was,  however,  so  little  known  at  Smyrna  that  nine- 
teen years  after  it  was  hoisted,  viz  :  in  August,  1812,  two 
American  vessels  arrived  in  that  port,  and  the  United 
States  having  no  treaty  with  the  porte,  were  obliged  to  hoist 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  237 

English  colors  in  order  to  obtain  admission.  The  English 
factors  were  displeased  on  seeing  a  foreigner  use  their  flag  and 
obtain  privileges  under  it,  and  on  their  representation  the  British 
consul  forbade  the  Americans  using  it,  and  informed  the 
custom  house  the  vessels  were  not  of  his  nation.  This  sub- 
jected the  Americans  to  six  per  cent  additional  duty  j  but  on  their 
threatening  to  leave  without  breaking  bulk  they  were  allowed  to 
land  their  cargo  by  paying  a  duty  of  four  per  cent  only,  one  per  cent 
more  than  was  paid  by  English  vessels.  After  they  had  cleared 
their  holds,  however,  the  custom  house  officers  seized  six  barrels 
of  indigo  for  which  they  could  obtain  no  redress.1 

In  1 797,  a  schooner  built  at  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  was  launched, 
and  was  the  first  vessel  under  our  flag  to  invade  the  waters  of 
the  Great  Lake.  She  was  soon  lost,  and  the  enterprise  was 
not  followed  up  for  several  years  ;  she  was,  however,  parent  of 
the  extensive  commerce  which  now  sails  over  those  inland  seas. 

In  1800,  our  constellation  of  stars  was  first  displayed  before 
the  crescent  under  the  walls  of  Constantinople  by  the  frigate 
George  Washington,  Capt.  William  Bainbridge,  when  she 
carried  the  tribute  of  the  dey  of  Algiers  to  the  sultan.  When 
the  nationality  of  the  frigate  was  reported  to  the  authori- 
ties, the  answer  returned  was  that  the  government  had  never 
heard  of  the  United  States  of  America  as  a  nation.  On  its 
being  explained  that  the  frigate  came  from  the  new  world  dis- 
covered by  Columbus,  a  bunch  of  flowers  and  a  lamp  was  sent 
on  board,  the  one  as  a  welcome,  the  other  as  a  token  of  amity. 

Capt.  Bainbridge  passed  the  forts  and  castles  of  the  Bosphorus 
by  a  stratagem  ;  as  his  ship  approached  the  castles,  he  shortened 
sail  and  made  the  usual  preparations  for  anchoring.  When  nearly 
abreast  of  the  anchorage,  he  commenced  a  salute,  which  was 
instantly  returned  from  the  shore.  Under  cover  of  the  friendly 
smoke,  sail  was  made,  and  before  the  Turks  had  recovered 
from  their  surprise  at  so  unusual  an  occurrence  the  ship  was 
beyond  their  batteries,  pursuing  her  way  to  Constantinople. 

At  an  entertainment  subsequently  given  by  Capt.  Bainbridge 
to  the  minister  of  the  sublime  porte,  decanters  of  water  were 
placed  upon  the  table  (the  Musselmans  not  drinking  wine)  from 


^Select  Review. 


238  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

the  four  quarters  of  the  globe.  Some  of  the  casks  filled  in 
America  and  Africa  being  still  full  and  the  frigate  then  an- 
chored between  the  shores  of  Europe  and  Asia.  This  incident, 
as  unique  as  pleasing,  attracted  so  much  notice  in  the  diplo- 
matic circle  of  Constantinople,  that  the  lady  of  the  British  am- 
bassador, borrowed  the  four  decanters  to  grace  her  own  table 
at  an  entertainment  the  following  day. 

Previous  to  our  declaration  of  war  against  Great  Britain, 
it  was  determined  at  a  cabinet  council,  that  our  vessels  of  war 
should  be  placed  in  ordinary,  it  being  deemed  unwise  to  jeopard- 
ize our  few  frigates  and  sloops  of  war  in  a  contest  with  the 
gigantic  navy  of  the  enemy.1  Capt.  Wm.  Bainbridge,  who  was 
in  Washington,  the  day  after  war  was  declared,  consulted  with 
Capt.  Charles  Stewart,  who  was  also  there,  on  the  propriety  of 
remonstrating  against  the  measure.  They  accordingly  wrote  a 
letter  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy  stating  in  forcible  language,  that 
such  a  course  would  have  a  most  chilling  and  unhappy  effect  on 
the  spirit  of  the  navy.  Even  if  we  were  to  lose  some  of  our  ves- 
sels of  war,  it  would  be  better  to  do  so,  they  thought,  than  that 
they  should  be  ingloriously  laid  up  in  harbor,  while  other  branches 
of  the  service  were  gallantly  contending  in  the  field.  From  the 
high  discipline  of  our  navy,  and  from  the  eagerness  of  the  officers 
and  crews  for  the  contest,  they  felt  perfectly  assured  that  if  our 
vessels  did  not  prove  invariably  triumphant,  they  would  certainly 
never  disgrace  themselves  or  the  nation. 

This  letter  had  its  effect ;  our  men-of-war  were  permitted  to 
cruise,  and  the  result  showed  the  truth  of  their  predictions. 
One  of  the  earliest  triumphs  for  our  flag  resulting  from  this 
decision,  was  the  capture  of  H.  B.  M.  frigate  Macedonian  by 
the  frigate  United  States  off  Madeira  on  the  25th  of  October. 

When  the  United  States  and  her  prize  arrived  at  New  Lon- 
don, Decatur  sent  his  report  of  the  action,  and  the  colors  of 
the  Macedonian  to  Washington  by  Lieut.  Hamilton,  a  son 
of  the  secretary  of  the  navy.  With  these  he  arrived  in  Wash- 
ington on  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  December,  while  a  ball 

1  Life  of  Bainbridge.  Life  of  Stewart.  Com.  Stewart's  Letter  to  the  U.  S.  Nautica 
Magazine,  1846,  vol.  u,  pp.  172—185. 

Our  entire  naval  force  capable  of  going  to  sea  consisted  of  but  412  guns,  viz  :  274 
in  frigates,  62  in  sloops  of  war,  and  78  in  brigs  and  schooners. —  Stewart's  Letter. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  239 

given  to  the  officers  of  the  navy,  and  particularly  to  Capt. 
Charles  Stewart,  of  the  Constellation,  in  acknowledgment  of 
civilities  recently  offered  by  him  to  the  citizens  of  Washington, 
was  in  progress.  The  occasion  was  also  graced  by  the  presence 
of  Capt.  Hull,  the  gallant  victor  of  the  Guerriere,  by  many  of 
the  public  functionaries,  and  by  those  who  were  most  distin- 
guished in  the  society  of  the  capital.  The  secretary  of  the  navy 
being  present,  Lieut.  Hamilton  proceeded  to  the  ball-room  with 
his  dispatches.  He  was  received  with  acclamations  into  the 
festive  hall,  and  having  acquitted  himself  of  his  errand,  was  wel- 
comed by  the  embraces  of  his  father,  mother,  and  sisters,  all  by 
a  happy  accident  present  to  exult  in  the  safety  and  success  of 
one  endeared  by  the  noblest  of  all  qualities  to  those  who  knew 
him ;  a  feeling  which  they  would  have  cherished  the  more 
deeply,  could  they  have  foreseen,  that  when  he  should  again 
accompany  Decatur  to  battle,  it  would  be  to  return  no  more. 

The  ball  room  had  been  decorated  with  the  trophies  of  our 
recent  naval  victories.  A  desire  was  expressed  that  the  colors  of 
the  Macedonian  should  be  added  to  those  of  the  Constitution  and 
Alert.  They  were  accordingly  borne  in  by  Captains  Stewart  and 
Hull,  and  presented  to  Mrs.  Madison,  the  wife  of  the  president, 
amidst  the  inspiring  strains  of  music  ;  while  acclamations  of 
patriotic  exultation  broke  from  the  lips  of  the  fair  and  the  brave. 
Enthusiasm  was  at  its  height  when,  at  the  supper  table,  "  the 
health  of  Commodore  Decatur  and  the  officers  and  crew  of  the 
United  States"  was  proposed  and  drank  with  all  the  honors. 
Even  now  no  patriotic  American  can  recur  to  these  recollec- 
tions without  a  throt)  of  unutterable  emotion.  How  must  they 
then  ha\*e  affected  those  who  contemplated  them  as  present  events, 
such  as  the  conception  previously  entertained  of  our  own  weak- 
ness and  British  power  had  not  permitted  to  hope.1 

After  the  usual  congratulations  on  this  the  third  naval  victory 
gained  in  a  few  months  over  the  enemy,  Mr.  Hamilton,  the 
secretary  of  the  navy,  said  to  Capt.  Stewart,  "  We  are  in- 
debted to  Bainbridge  and  yourself  for  these  flags  and  victo- 
ries. Had  it  not  been  for  your  strong  remonstrance,  not  a 
vessel  of  war  belonging  to  the  government  would  have  left 
its  anchorage." 


McKenziis  Life  of  Decatur ,  pp.  181—82. 


240  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  close  of  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  created  an  interest 
in  the  trophies,  which  had  been  gathered  by  our  flag,  on  land 
and  on  the  sea ;  and  in  answer  to  a  call  from  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives inquiring  into  the  present  condition  and  disposition  of  the 
flags,  standards,  and  colors,  taken  by  the  forces  of  the  United  States 
from  their  enemies,  John  Armstrong,  secretary  of  war,  on  the 
I4th  of  January,  1814,  reported,  that  of  the  standards  and  colors 
taken  by  the  army  of  the  United  States  during  the  revolution,  only 
six  flags  remained  in  the  war  department ;  others,  it  was  un- 
derstood, were  deposited  in  Philadelphia,  while  congress  sat  in 
that  city.  But  whether  they  had  been  moved  with  the  public 
offices  to  Washington  he  did  not  know. 

Mr.  Seybert,  chairman  of  the  committee  to  whom  the  pre- 
servation of  these  flags  and  trophies  had  been  referred,  re- 
ported February 4, 1814  :  "That  the  collection,  preservation,  and 
exhibition  of  such  flags,  standards  and  colors,  as  have  been 
taken  by  the  land  and  naval  forces  of  the  United  States,  from 
their  enemies,  is  sanctioned  by  the  practice  of  the  European 
nations,  and  more  especially  by  the  proceedings  of  the  congress 
of  our  revolution.  It  is  believed  there  cannot  be  a  difference  of 
opinion  on  this  subject;  it  is  natural  to  rejoice  at  the  victories 
and  glory  of  our  country.  In  Europe,  the  trophies  which  have 
been  gained  in  war  are  preserved  with  uncommon  care.  As 
monuments  of  national  power  they  have  ever  been  cherished  by 
all  civilized  nations.  In  England  they  are  highly  prized.  Not 
content  that  they  should  constitute  the  ornaments  of  their  mili- 
tary institutions,  such  standards  are  deemed  proper  subjects  for 
the  decorations  of  the  temple  which  they  have  consecrated  to 
the  purposes  of  religious  worship.  The  sacred  chapels,"  in  com- 
mon with  the  royal  palaces,  are  the  places  in  which  they  are  dis- 
played, to  every  subject  and  traveler,  the  banners  which  the 
British  forces  have  won  from  their  enemies.  It  must  be  recol- 
lected, that  the  standard  of  our  4th  regiment  of  infantry,  which 
the  enemy  received  at  the  lamentable  surrender  of  Detroit,  was, 
in  haste,  conveyed  to  Europe.1  Immediately  after  its  arrival  in 
London  the  public  prints  informed  us  that  it  was  triumphantly 
displayed  in  the  council  chamber  at  Whitehall.  Such  is  the 
British  practice. 


Now  preserved  in  Chelsea  Hospital,  see  page  97. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  241 

In  France,  the  galleries  of  Notre  Dame  are  blazoned  with 
these  splendid  trophies  ;  the  chapel  of  the  Hotel  of  the  Invalids  is 
richly  embellished,  and  exhibits  to  the  numerous  visitors  the 
many  standards  which  that  gigantic  power  has  at  different  times 
taken  from  its  enemies.1  The  trophies  of  war  ornament  the 
places  of  worship  in  Prussia,  Bohemia,  and  Austria.  It  affords 
no  common  satisfaction  to  the  disabled  tar,  or  the  superannu- 
ated soldier,  when  he  informs  the  inquisitive  stranger  that  he 
gloriously  fought  in  the  battle  which  may  have  gained  some  of 
them ;  for  the  time  he  forgets  his  former  sufferings  and  his 
present  disabled  condition  ;  his  consolation  rests  upon  the  power 
and  glory  of  his  country,  so  fully  demonstrated  by  the  sight  of 
numerous  ensigns  which  have  been  taken  from  other  nations. 
Other  instances  in  favor  of  the  practice  could  have  been  furnished, 
but  your  committee  are  persuaded,  that  the  ardor  of  the  illustrious 
congress  of  our  revolution  alone  will  justify  the  proposition  which 
they  submit  for  legislative  consideration.  As  early  as  the  23d  of 
June,  1778,  it  was  "  Resolved^  That  the  board  of  war  be  directed 
to  collect  the  standards  and  colors  taken  from  the  enemy  by  the 
army  of  the  United  States  since  the  commencement  of  the  war." 
Had  this  order  been  strictly  observed,  and  somewhat  extended, 
the  present  proceedings  would  be  unnecessary.  Far  from  any 
regulation  having  been  adopted  in  pursuance  of  the  recited  re- 
solutions your  committee  laments  the  peculiar  negligence  which 
ensued.  The  secretary  of  war  now  tells  us,  that  only  six  remain 
in  his  office,  he  cannot  give  any  information  concerning  others ; 
even  their  place  of  deposit  is  unknown  to  the  department  !  The  navy 
department  possesses  no  knowledge  of  any  flags  which  were 
taken  "  anterior  to  the  declaration  of  the  present  war."  Such  as 
have  been  captured  with  the  public  armed  ships  of  the  enemy, 
subsequent  to  the  1 8th  of  June,  1812,  "  have  been  carefully 
preserved ; "  thirteen  of  them  have  been  already  received,  as 
will  more  fully  appear  by  the  annexed  statement  ;2  of  these  three 
belonged  to  the  heavy  frigates  of  the  enemy,  viz  ;  the  Guerriere^ 
Macedonian^  and  Java.  The  navy  department  is  also  in  posses- 


1  See  page  77. 

a  For  the  statement  see  American  State  Papers  (naval  affairs),  1814,  Doc.  No.  1 08,  ad 
Session,  I3th  Congress,  p.  299. 

31 


242  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

sion  of  a  royal  standard  of  Great  Britain,  which  was  taken  at 
York,  and  a  union  jack  and  flag,  which  were  captured  at  Fort 
George  ;  the  flags  of  five  small  vessels  which  were  captured, 
have  not  been  received.  Your  committee  regret  that  the  journals 
of  congress  do  not  exhibit  statements  of  all  the  standards  and 
colors  which  were  taken  during  our  revolution,  by  the  army  and 
navy  of  the  United  States;  the  early  attention  of  the  legislature 
to  this  subject  inclines  them  to  believe  they  were  very  numerous. 
The  capture  of  Earl  Cornwallis  alone  furnished  twenty-four  of 
them!  In  all  probability  as  many  were  taken  from  General 
Burgoyne.1 

By  some,  the  exhibitions  which  are  contemplated  may  be  con- 
sidered as  too  trivial  for  legislative  provision.  Your  committee 
would  coincide  with  them  in  this  opinion,  did  the  practice  only 
afford  a  momentary  gratification  to  the  curious.  Experience  must 
have  taught  European  governments  that  national  benefits  were  de- 
rived from  the  course  which  they  have  adopted,  or  it  would 
long  since  have  been  discontinued.  It  is  presumed  that  essen- 
tial consequences  proceed  from  the  practice,  more  especially 
when  a  nation  shall  be  engaged  in  war,  such  trophies  excite  the 
spirit  of  a  nation  —  the  result  is  national  character.  The  arrival 
of  an  enemy's  flag  is  sufficient  to  rouse  the  population  of  Lon- 
don or  Paris.  On  such  occasions  the  finest  national  feelings 
are  developed ;  and,  to  the  honor  of  our  fellow  citizens  be  it 
said,  they  have  not  been  found  to  want  this  species  of  national 
sensibility,  when  the  flags  of  the  Guerriere,  Macedonian  and  Java 
&c.,  were  exhibited  to  them.  It  was  indifferent  whether  they 
considered  themselves  of  the  war  or  of  the  peace  party  ;  each 
was  ambitious  to  rank  the  victor  with  himself!  The  na- 
tional taste  and  propensity  is  strongly  marked  by  the  eagerness 
with  which  all  view  representations  of  our  late  unparalleled 
naval  victories  !  If,  then,  the  art  and  the  genius  of  the  painter 
can  thus  excite  our  natures,  may  we  not  look  for  much  more 
when  we  have  the  physical  facts  placed  before  us  instead  of 
fancy  ?  These  flags,  the  trophies  won  by  our  gallant  tars,  de- 


1  "  General  Riedesel  commanded  that  the  colors  should  not  be  surrendered  with 
the  arms  at  Saratoga,  but  on  the  contrary,  that  the  staffs  should  be  burnt  and  the 
flags  carefully  packed  up ;  this  was  done  as  ordered,  so  that  each  of  the  German  regi- 
ments really  kept  possession  of  their  colors." — Memoirs  Baroness  Riedesel. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  243 

monstrate  to  us,  and  the  world,  that  the  invincibility  of  the 
British  naval  power  has  been  very  much  exaggerated.  In 
battle  will  the  recollection  of  them  sustain  our  sailors  and  our 
soldiers,  and  impart  additional  skill  and  valor  in  support  of  the 
cause  of  our  country  !  The  value  of  standards  does  not  depend 
upon  the  gaudy  colors  which  they  exhibit,  no  more  than  upon 
the  nature  of  the  stuff  of  which  they  may  be  fabricated.  They 
have  been  at  all  times  regarded  as  the  insignia  of  fame  and 
power  ;  their  surrender  is  the  act  of  submission.  The  last 
wish  of  the  proud  bearer  is  the  preservation  of  his  eagle ;  too 
often  is  the  loss  of  it  sealed  with  the  loss  of  life.  In  Europe, 
where  military  operations  are  on  a  large  scale,  though  the  re- 
sult of  a  battle  should  prove  destructive  to  thousands  of  those 
who  were  engaged,  the  capture  of  a  single  standard  constitutes  a 
prominent  feature  in  the  details  of  the  action,  and  adds  much 
to  the  brilliancy  of  the  achievement.  Colors  taken  from  the 
enemy  were  considered  a  present  worthy  of  the  nations,  to  Gen. 
Washington,  for  his  signal  services  in  the  capture  -of  Earl 
Cornwallis  !  The  records  of  the  proceedings  of  congress, 
during  our  whole  revolution,  mention  but  two  instances  where 
this  highly  honorable  and  distinguished  mark  of  approbation 
was  noted  !  In  fine,  we  have  declared  the  flag  shall  guaranty 
the  safety  of  our  citizens.  Can  a  higher  value  be  set  upon  it  ? 
Can  we  attach  more  honor  to  it  ? 

It  may  be  asked,  what  will  be  the  effects  of  a  public  display 
of  the  flags  which  have  been  taken  from  our  enemies  ?  This 
view  is  considered  important.  No  one  can  doubt  that  the 
government  and  the  people  of  England  would  rather  we  had 
taken  millions  of  their  merchandise,  than  that  we  should  have 
it  in  our  power  to  exhibit  the  flag  of  a  single  sloop  of  war, 
which  was  gained  by  equal  force.  If  the  enemy  will  expose  to 
the  view  of  the  British  nation,  and  every  traveler  who  may 
visit  them,  the  one  or  two  flags  which  they  have  captured  from 
us,  shall  we  conceal  the  many  we  have  taken  from  them,  and 
thus  lead  others  to  doubt  our  possessing  any  ?  Shall  we  permit 
the  numerous  trophies  of  our  revolution  to  moulder  into  dust 
by  a  voluntary  concealment,  without  any  effort  for  their  pre- 
servation ?  If  this  shall  have  happened  to  the  proud  monuments 
of  our  independence,  shall  the  fate  of  those  which  are  now 


244  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

perfect,  and  which  have  been  so  lately  won  on  our  own  coast, 
on  that  of  South  America,  off  the  Azores,  on  the  lakes,  in  short 
in  all  latitudes  where  our  tars  have  come  in  contact  with  the 
enemy,  be  the  same  ?  Is  not  the  preservation  of  these  flags,  a 
duty  which  we  owe  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  ? x  Are 
the  achievements  of  that  gallant  little  navy,  which  a  few  months 
ago,  was  the  object  of  derision  with  the  statesmen  and  people 
of  England,  but  now  the  cause  of  their  fears  to  be  buried  in 
oblivion  ?  Shall  we  put  at  rest  the  inquiry  which  the 
glorious  deeds  of  our  sailors  have  excited  in  the  parliament  of 
Great  Britain  ?  Shall  we,  at  our  expense,  approve  the  labored 
calculations  of  the  enemy  ?  with  her,  confound  reason  and  com- 
mon sense,  and  attribute  simple  truths  to  fallacious  causes,  or 
shall  we  give  in  to  a  practice  so  generally  cherished  by  other 
nations  ?  Our  successes  on  the  ocean  constitute  the  pride  of 
our  country,  they  have  secured  to  us  the  respect  of  foreign 
nations.  In  Europe  we  again  hold  that  rank  which  our  ances- 
tors had  obtained  by  their  many  hard  fought  conflicts,  which 
we  had  nearly  forfeited.  Have  we  not  accomplished  more 
than  Spain  did  with  her  "  invincible  armadas  ;"  than  did  Hol- 
land with  her  DeWitts,  Van  Tromps,  and  De  Ruyters  ;  than 
France  could  achieve,  when  she  was  in  the  zenith  of  her  naval 
power ;  than  did  Great  Britain  with  her  Nelsons,  Rodneys, 
Howes,  and  St.  Vincents.  The  naval  annals  of  England  fur- 
nish no  instance  in  which  every  vessel  belonging  to  a  hostile 
fleet  was  captured. 

Some  may  doubt  our  possessing  a  number  of  standards  suffi- 
cient to  warrant  their  public  exhibition.  Had  we  but  few  of 
them,  we  should  not  deny  our  sanction  to  the  principle.  Your 
committee  regret  that  special  order  had  not  been  taken  by  con- 
gress immediately  after  the  receipt  of  the  first  present  of  this 
kind  :  we  alluded  to  the  colors  which  were  taken  by  Gen. 

'The  flags  of  the  following  British  vessels  of  war  are  now  preserved  in  the  gunnery 
room  of  the  United  States  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis,  viz  :  Alert,  20  :  Beresford, 
I  ;  Boxer,  14;  Chippaway  I  ;  Chubb,  n  ;  Confiance,  37;  Cyane,  24 ;  Detroit,  20; 
Dominica,  16 5  Duke  of  Gloucester,  14;  Epervier,  185  Frolic.  22;  Guernere,  38; 
Hunter,  10  5  Java,  18  ;  Lady  Provost,  13  ;  Levant  20  ;  Little  Belt,  3  :  Linnet,  16  j 
Macedonian,  38  ;  Peacock,  20 ;  Penguin,  18  j  Reindeer,  18  :  St.  Lawrence  15, ;  and  a 
royal  standard  captured  at  York,  Canada.  There  is  also  preserved  there,  the  flags 
of  the  French  vessels  of  war  :  Berceau  24 ;  Tlnsurgente  40 ;  and  Algerine  frigate 
Mezoura  46,  and  brig  Estudis  22  guns  5  also  several  flags  captured  from  the  Mexicans. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  245 

Montgomery,  from  the  yth  British  Regt.  at  Chamblee,  on  the 
i8th  of  October,  1775. 

The  French  pride  themselves  on  their  ability  to  exhibit  the 
two  which  they  have  taken  from  our  present  enemy  :  for  so 
lately  as  the  year  1800,  they  had  only  two  of  the  naval  flags  of 
Great  Britain  !  Though  the  war  and  navy  departments  can 
immediately  furnish  but  twenty  or  twenty-five  of  these  flags  it  is 
probable  the  place  of  deposit  will  be  ascertained  so  as  to  put 
within  our  power  many  of  those  which  were  gained  during  our 
revolution.  Where  are  those  which  were  won  during  the  dis- 
pute with  France  in  I798.1  The  same  may  be  asked  of  those 
which  the  defeats  of  Derne  and  Tripoli  should  furnish. 

The  only  project  which  now  remains  for  consideration  is  the 
place  most  proper  for  their  exhibition.  This  should  be  public, 
and  easy  of  access,  at  the  same  time  it  should  be  properly  secure 
from  villainous  attempts.  These  flags  should  be  placed  so  as 
to  be  seen  by  every  citizen  who  might  wish  to  observe  them. 
It  will  be  of  advantage  that  they  should  be  noticed  by  every 
foreigner  who  may  visit  the  United  States.  Can  any  objection 
be  made  to  the  spacious  national  apartments  which  are  devoted 
to  legislative  purposes  ?  What  ornaments  can  be  more  suitable  ? 
Go  abroad,  and  you  may  see  the  walls  of  the  British  house  of 
lords  decorated  with  representations  of  some  of  the  celebrated 
battles  which  were  fought  by  the  troops  of  Great  Britain. 
At. home  we  find  the  principle  already  established  by  one  branch 
of  the  legislature  of  the  United  States.  In  the  senate  chamber 
observe  engravings  of  some  of  the  battles  of  our  revolution  ; 
and  had  time  allowed  the  execution  of  the  original  design  of  the 
architect  the  precedent  would  have  had  existence  in  the  cham- 
ber of  the  representatives  of  the  United  States.  It  was  con- 
templated that  the  frieze  over  the  capitals  of  the  Corinthian 
columns  which  sustain  the  dome,  should  present  in  relievo^  a 
regular  series  of  the  battles  which  secured  our  independence. 
Such  decorations  might  gratify  the  artist,  and  afford  an  opportu- 
nity to  display  his  talents ;  but  in  a  national  point  of  view,  little 
or  no  effect  would  be  produced.  It  must  be  conceded  that 


1PThe  colors  of  the  Berceau  and  Insurgente  are  now  (1872)  in  the  Gunnery  room 
of  the  Naval  Academy,  Annapolis,  Md. 


246  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

much  more  will  be  communicated  to  the  spectators  by  the  dis- 
play of  the  captured  standards. 

No  one  can  pretend  that  any  difference  exists  between  the 
representations  which  we  have  noticed,  and  the  standards  which 
have  been  taken  from  the  enemy,  as  will  warrant  the  public 
exhibition  of  the  one,  and  preclude  that  of  the  other  ;  these 
subjects  are  most  intimately  connected,  and  their  tendency 
must  be  the  same.  The  public  exhibition  of  these  trophies  is 
due  to  the  very  superior  skill  and  valor  which  achieved  them. 
The  sight  of  them  will  bring  to  recollection  every  circumstance 
of  cause  and  effect.  They  will  constitute  valuable  records  of 
illustrious  portions  of  our  history  j  they  will  form  a  collection  of 
the  proudest  monuments  to  commemorate  the  brilliant  deeds  of 
a  rising  nation.1 

The  result  of  this  exhaustive  and  interesting  paper  was  the 
enactment  of  the  following  law  which  was  approved  April  18, 
1814,  just  a  fortnight  after  the  report  of  the  committee,  viz  : 

An  act  to  provide  for  the  collection  and  preservation  of  such  flags, 
standards^  and  color s^  as  shall  have  been  or  may  hereafter  be  taken^ 
by  the  land  and  naval  forces  of  the  United  States  from  their  ene- 
mies.2 

SECTION  I.  That  the  secretaries  of  the  war  and  navy  de- 
partments be,  and  they  are  hereby,  directed  to  cause  to  be 
collected  and  transmitted  to  them,  at  the  seat  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  all  such  flags,  standards,  and  colors, 
as  shall  have  been,  or  may  hereafter  be,  taken  by  the  army  and 
navy  of  the  United  States,  from  their  enemies. 

Section  2.  That  all  the  flags,  standards,  and  colors  of  the 
description  aforesaid,  and  such  as  may  be  hereafter  transmitted 
to  them,  be  with  all  convenient  dispatch,  delivered  to  the  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  being,  under  his 
direction,  preserved  and  displayed,  in  such  public  place  as  he 
shall  deem  proper. 

Section  3.  [$500  appropriated]. 

Forty  years  later,  on  the  3d  of  March,  1855,  the  subject  was 
revived,  and  one  of  the  provisions  of  an  act  making  appropriations 


1  American  State  Papers,  folio  1832,  vol,  I,  pp.  488-90. 

2  Laws  of  the  United  States,  vol.  in,  p.  133. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  247 

for  the  civil  and  diplomatic  expenses  of  the  government,  directed 
the  secretary  of  war  "  to  cause  to  be  constructed  in  a  central 
position  on  the  public  grounds  in  Washington  a  suitable  build- 
ing for  the  care  and  preservation  of  the  arms,  etc.,  of  the  militia 
of  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  for  the  care  and  preservation  of  the 
military  trophies  of  the  Revolutionary  and  other  wars",  and  for  the 
deposit  of  newly  invented  and  model  arms,  &c.,  &c.,"  and  thirty 
thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  for  carrying  the  act  into  effect. 

Neither  of  these  laws  appear  to  have  been  very  strictly  en- 
forced, for  on  inquiry  of  the  war  department  I  learn  that  "  no 
building  has  been  erected  as  a  place  of  general  deposit  for  flags, 
and  that  all  the  flags  captured  by  the  army  prior  to  the  war  of 
the  rebellion  have  been  sent  to  West  Point  including  one  or  two 
British  flags"  No  printed  list  of  them  is  in  the  possession  of  the 
war  department.1 

All  flags  captured  by  the  navy  which  have  been  preserved  are 
now  deposited  in  the  Gunnery  room  at  the  Naval  Academy, 
Annapolis. 

Hon.  Wm.  L.  Marcy,  afterwards  governor  of  the  state  of 
New  York  and  secretary  of  state  for  the  United  States,  but  in 
the  war  of  1812-14,  a  young  lieutenant  in  Capt.  Lewis's  com- 
pany of  militia,  on  the  I4th  of  October,  1812,  captured  the  first 
British  flag  taken  in  the  war  :  the  flag  that  waved  over  a  block- 
house at  St.  Regis  in  Canada.  He  bore  it  in  triumph  to  French 
Mills,  and  it  was  presented  to  the  people  of  the  state  of  New 
York  in  the  Capitol  at  Albany. 

A  few  days  before  the  corner-stone  of  the  Washington  mon- 
ument at  Baltimore  was  laid,  Mr.  Custis,  accompanied  by 
Messrs.  Lewis  and  Grymes,  sailed  from  Alexandria,  June,  1815, 
for  Pope's  creek  in  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  a  small  vessel  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  Custis,  for  the  purpose  of  placing  a  freestone  slab  over 
the  birth  place  of  Washington,  with  this  simple  inscription. 

HERE  THE  IITH  OF  FEBRUARY  [O.  S.]  1732, 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON  WAS  BORN." 

Arrived  at  the  hallowed  spot  with  the  inscribed  tablet  they 
proceeded  to  deposit  it  in  the  proper  place. 

1  Letter  from  Secretary  of  War,  Dec.  ai,    1871,  enclosing  memo,  from   adjutant 
general,  U.  S.  A. 


248  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

"  Desirous  of  making  the  ceremonial  of  depositing  the  stone 
as  imposing  as  circumstances  would  permit,"  says  Mr.  Custis, 
"  we  enveloped  it  in  the  STAR  SPANGLED  BANNER  of  our  country, 
and  it  was  borne  to  its  resting  place  in  the  arms  of  the  descend- 
ants of  four  revolutionary  patriots  and  soldiers,  Samuel  Lewis 
a  son  of  George  Lewis,  a  Captain  in  Baylor's  regiment  of  horse 
and  a  nephew  of  Washington  j  William  Grymes,  the  son  of 
Benjamin  Grymes,  a  gallant  and  distinguished  officer  of  the 
Life  Guards  ;  the  captain  of  the  vessel,  the  son  of  a  brave 
soldier  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Guilford  ;  and  George  Wash- 
ington Park  Custis,  the  son  of  John  Parke  Custis,  aide-de- 
camp to  the  commander-in-chief  before  Cambridge  and  York- 
town.  We  gathered  together  the  bricks  of  the  ancient  chim- 
ney that  once  formed  the  hearthstone  around  which  in  infancy 
Washington  had  played,  and  constructed  a  rude  kind  of  a  pedes- 
tal on  which  we  reverently  placed  the  first  stone,  commending 
it  to  the  respect  and  protection  of  the  American  people  in  gene- 
ral, and  the  citizens  of  Westmoreland  in  particular."  x 

1  Lossing's  Field  Book,  vol.  n.t  p.  218,  which  has  an  engraving  of  the  monumental 
stone. 


PART   IV. 

X 

THE  STARS  AND  STRIPES, 

1818-1861. 


THE  FLAG  OF  THIRTEEN  STRIPES  AND  A  STAR  FOR  EACH 
STATE  OF  THE  UNION, 

I8l8-l86o. 


CHRONICLES  OF  THE  FLAG, 
I8l8-l86l. 


32 


When  kingly  presumption  loosed  war's  desolation 

To  sweep  o'er  Columbia  and  sully  her  charms, 
Our  fathers  united  to  found  a  new  nation, 

And  symboled  it  well  in  our  blazon  of  arms. 
Their  homes  were  thirteen,  so  they  followed  that  number, 

Seven  red  and  six  white,  in  a  series  of  bars  j 
And  —  painting  love's  vigilance,  foreign  to  slumber — 

They  chose  a  blue  quarter  with  thirteen  white  stars. 

Thirteen  blazed  at  once  in  their  new  constellation, 

The  Daughters  of  Freedom,  a  star  for  each  mate  : 
A  new  silver  star  is  the  fine  augmentation 

Of  honor  they  granted  for  every  new  state. 
They  named  no  abatement  in  view  of  secession  ; 

But  bound  us,  their  children,  to  foster  the  trust. 
May  God  blast  the  wretch  to  propose  the  regression 

Of  part  of  their  glory  —  of  part  of  their  dust ! 

The  white  of  the  field  proved  their  hate  of  oppression, 

Their  passion  for  peace  and  abhorrence  of  war  j 
The  red,  in  excess,  warned  o'erweening  aggression 

It  aye  should  be  met  and  repulsed  from  their  shore. 
Truth  shines  in  the  quarter,  thus  tinctured  of  Heaven  j 

Youth  and  strength  light  the  stars,  that  have  ne'er  paled  or  set : 
Year  by  year  they  increase  —  may  God  grant  that  their  levin 

Extending,  shall  re-youth  the  continents  yet ! 

So  fashioned  our  fathers  the  FLAG  OF  THE  UNION, 

Which  glads  every  wave  of  the  world-lashing  seas — 
Revered  by  each  man  in  our  patriot  communion — 

The  handsomest  banner  that  rides  on  the  breeze. 
With  this  sign  they  conquered.  'Midst  cannon  and  mortar, 

Sword,  musket,  and  rifle,  still  glitters  this  shield ; 
A  quarter  that  stoops  to  no  nation  for  quarter — 

A  field  present  ever  where  foes  are  a  field 

As  the  stars  and  the  stripes  are  our  states  interwoven, 

Having  grown  thus  from  weakness  to  far-spreading  might : 
Then  perish  the  villain !  who,  wanting  them  cloven, 

Would  quench  their  resplendence  in  treachery's  night ! 
May  "  a  blacker  than  Cain  "  on  his  forehead  be  branded  ! 

May  his  race  be  accursed,  as  clods  of  a  clod  ! 
May  the  tale  to  futurity's  farthest  be  handed, 

That  damns  him  a  traitor  to  man  and  to  God  ! 

Charles  J.  Lukcns. 


THE  STARS  AND  STRIPES, 
1818 — 1861. 

The  admission  of  the  states  of  Tennessee,  June  I,  1796;  Ohio, 
Nov.  29,  1802  ;  Louisiana,  April  8,  1812;  and  Indiana,  Dec. 
u,  1816,  seemed  to  make  some  change  in  the  flag  desirable, 
and  accordingly  on  the  admission  of  the  last  named  state,  the 
Hon.  Peter  Wendover,  of  New  York,  offered  a  resolution  "  that 
a  committee  be  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  al- 
tering the  flag  of  the  United  States." 

A  committee  was  accordingly  appointed  which  reported  a 
bill  on  the  2d  of  January,  1817,  but  the  bill  was  not  acted  upon. 
While  this  committee  had  the  matter  under  consideration  Mr. 
Wendover  called  upon  Capt.  S.  C.  Reid,  famous  for  his  defence 
of  the  privateer,  Gen.  Armstrong,  in  Fayal  roads,  who  was  then 
in  Washington,  and  requested  him  to  form  a  design  for  our  flag, 
so  as  to  represent  the  increase  of  the  number  of  the  states,  with- 
out destroying  its  distinctive  character,  the  committee  being 
disposed  to  increase  both  stars  and  stripes  to  equal  twenty,  the 
whole  number  of  states  of  the  Union. 

Capt.  Reid  at  once  recommended  reducing  the  stripes  to 
thirteen  representing  the  original  states  of  the  Union,  and  the 
stars  to  equal  the  number  of  all  the  states  and  formed  into  one 
great  star,  whose  brilliancy  should  represent  their  union,  and 
symbolize  the  origin  and  progress  of  the  country  and  its  chosen 
motto  E  Plurlbus  Unum.  He  also  proposed  the  addition  of 
a  star  for  each  new  state  admitted.  The  flag  thus  designed,  he 
intended  for  merchant  vessels,  and  for  distinction  proposed  that 
the  stars  on  the  ensigns  of  vessels  of  war  should  be  placed  in 
parallel  lines. 

In  accordance  with  Capt.  Reid's  suggestions  the  committee 
reported  : 

"  That  they  have  maturely  examined  the  subject  submitted 
to  their  consideration,  and  are  well  aware  that  any  proposition 
essentially  to  alter  the  flag  of  the  United  States,  either  in  the 
general  form  or  in  the  distribution  of  its  parts,  would  be  as  un- 


252  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

acceptable  to  the  legislature  and  to  the  people,  as  it  would  be 
uncongenial  with  the  views  of  the  committee. 

cc  Fully  persuaded  that  the  form  selected  for  the  American 
flag  was  truly  emblematical  of  our  origin  and  existence  as  an 
independent  natipn,  and  that,  as  such,  it  has  received  the  appro- 
bation and  support  of  the  citizens  of  the  Union,  it  ought  to  un- 
dergo no  change  that  would  decrease  its  conspicuity  or  tend  to 
deprive  it  of  its  representative  character.  The  committee, 
however,  believe,  that  a  change  in  the  number  of  states  in  the 
Union  sufficiently  indicates  the  propriety  of  such  a  change  in 
the  arrangement  of  the  flag,  as  shall  best  accord  with  the  reason 
that  led  to  its  adoption,  and  sufficiently  points  to  important  pe- 
riods in  our  history." 

"The  original  flag  of  the  United  States  was  composed  of 
thirteen  stripes  and  thirteen  stars,  and  was  adopted  by  a  resolu- 
tion of  the  continental  congress  on  the  I4th  of  June,  1777.  On 
the  1 3th  of  January,  1794,  after  two  new  states  had  been  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union,  the  national  legislature  passed  an  act, 
that  the  stripes  and  stars  should  on  a  day  fixed,  be  increased  to 
fifteen  each  to  comport  with  the  then  independent  states.  The 
accession  of  new  states  since  that  alteration,  and  the  certain 
prospect  that  at  no  distant  period  the  number  of  states  will  be 
considerably  multiplied,  render  it,  in  the  opinion  of  the  com- 
mittee, highly  inexpedient  to  increase  the  number  of  stripes,  as 
every  flag  must,  in  some  measure,  be  limited  in  its  size,  from 
the  circumstance  of  convenience  to  the  place  on  which  it  is  to 
be  displayed,  while  such  an  increase  would  necessarily  decrease 
their  magnitude,  and  render  them  proportionally  less  distinct  to 
distant  observation.  This  consideration  has  induced  many  to 
retain  only  the  general  form  of  the  flag,  while  there  actually 
exists  a  great  want  of  uniformity  in  its  adjustment,  particularly 
when  used  on  small  private  vessels. 

"  The  national  flag  being  in  general  use  by  vessels  of  almost 
every  description,  it  appears  to  the  committee  of  considerable 
importance  to  adopt  some  arrangement  calculated  to  prevent,  in 
future,  great  or  extensive  alterations.  Under  these  impressions 
they  are  led  to  believe,  no  alteration  could  be  made  more  em- 
blematical of  our  origin  and  present  existence,  as  composed  of  a 
number  of  independent  and  united  states,  than  to  reduce  the 
stripes  to  the  original  thirteen,  representing  the  number  of  states 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  253 

then  contending  for,  and  happily  achieving  their  independence,  and 
to  increase  the  stars  to  correspond  with  the  number  of  states  now 
in  the  Union,  and  hereafter  to  add  one  star  to  the  flag  when- 
ever a  new  state  shall  be  fully  admitted. 

"  These  slight  alterations  will,  in  the  opinion  of  the  commit- 
tee, meet  the  general  approbation,  as  well  of  those  who  may 
have  regretted  a  former  departure  from  the  original  flag,  as  of 
such  as  are  solicitous  to  see  in  it  a  representation  of  every  state 
in  the  Union. 

"  The  committee  cannot  believe  that  in  retaining  only  13  stripes, 
it  necessarily  follows  they  should  be  distinctly  considered  in  re- 
ference to  certain  individual  states,  inasmuch  as  nearly  all  the 
new  states  were  a  component  part  of,  and  represented  in,  the 
original  ;  and  was  much,  also,  as  the  flag  is  intended  to  signify 
numbers,  and  not  local  and  particular  sections  of  the  union. 

"  The  committee  respectively  report  a  bill  accordingly." 

The  British  Naval  Chronicle  for  1817,  publishes  this  report 
in  full,  and  styles  it  "  a  curious  historical  document." 

The  bill  reported  by  the  committee  remained  through  pressure 
of  other  business  before  congress  unacted  upon,  but  on  the  re- 
assembling of  congress,  on  the  i6th  of  Dec.,  1817,  Mr. 
Wendover  renewed  his  resolution  "  that  a  committee  be  ap- 
pointed to  enquire  into  the  expediency  of  altering  the  flag  of  the 
United  States,  and  that  they  have  leave  to  report  by  bill  or  other- 
wise." Mr.  Wendover  said  he  would  make  but  few  remarks, 
the  subject  not  being  a  novel  one,  a  bill  relative  thereto 
having  been  submitted  at  the  last  session,  but  laid  over  under  the 
pressure  of  more  important  business.  Had  the  flag  never  un- 
dergone alteration  he  should  not  propose  to  make  a  further  al- 
teration now.  Having  once  been  altered,  he  thought  it  could 
now  be  improved.  It  was  his  impression  and  he  thought  it  was 
generally  believed  that  the  flag  never  would  be  essentially  in- 
jured by  an  alteration  on  the  same  principle  of  increasing  both 
stripes  and  stars. 

Mr.  Wendover  then  stated  the  incongruity  of  the  flags  in 
general  use  (except  those  of  the  navy),  not  agreeing  with  the 
law  and  generally  greatly  varying  from  each  other.  He  in- 
stanced the  flags  then  flying  over  the  building  in  which  congress 
sat,  and  that  at  the  navy  yard,  one  of  which  contained  only  nine 
stripes,  the  other  eighteen^  and  neither  conforming  to  the  law. 


254  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

It  was  some  importance,  he  conceived,  that  the  flag  of  the  na- 
tion should  be  designated  with  precision,  and  that  the  practice 
under  the  law  should  be  conformed  to  its  requisitions. 

On  the  6th  of  January,  1818,  the  committee  appointed,  of 
which  Mr.  Wendover  was  chairman,  reported  that  having  ma- 
turely considered  the  subject  referred  to  them,  they  have  adopted 
substantially  the  report  of  the  committee  on  the  same  subject 
at  the  last  session. 

The  committee  are  fully  persuaded  that  the  form  selected  for 
the  American  flag  was  truly  emblematical  of  our  origin  and  ex- 
istence as  an  independent  nation,  and  that  as  such  it  having  met 
the  approbation  and  received  the  support  of  the  citizens  of  the 
Union,  it  ought  to  undergo  no  change  that  would  decrease  its 
conspicuity  or  tend  to  deprive  it  of  its  representative  character. 

The  committee  believe,  however,  that  an  increase  in  the 
number  of  states  in  the  Union  since  the  flag  was  altered  by  law 
sufficiently  indicates  the  propriety  of  such  a  change  in  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  flag  as  shall  best  accord  with  the  reasons  that 
led  to  its  original  adoption  and  sufficiently  point  to  important 
periods  in  our  history. 

The  original  flag  of  the  United  States  was  composed  of  thir- 
teen stripes  and  thirteen  stars,  and  the  committee  cannot  view 
the  proposed  inconsiderable  addition  of  a  star  for  each  new  state 
in  the  light  of  a  departure  from  the  permanency  of  form  which 
should  characterize  the  flag  of  the  nation. 

In  connection  with  this  alteration  of  the  flag  the  following 
letters1  of  Mr.  Wendover  to  Capt.  Reid  are  interesting: 

"Washington,  Feb.  13,  1817. 

"  DEAR  SIR  *  *  *  The  flag  is  yet  on  the  table.  I 
know  not  when  it  will  get  to  the  anvil.  I  received  the  flag  from 
Mr.  Jarvis,  and  would  have  presented  him  my  thanks  for  his 
polite  attention  to  my  request,  but  I  am  so  oppressed  with  letter 
writing  that  I  have  no  time  to  take  exercise,  and  but  little  to 
sleep.  Please  present  my  thanks  to  Mr.  Jarvis  for  his  kindness 
to  me  and  the  standard  addressed  to  you  accompanying  it. 

"  I  find  the  flag  proposition  is  almost  universally  approved  of, 
but  fear  the  standard  will  have  to  lie  over  until  next  session." 


1  Communicated  to  the  Historical  Magazine,  by  W.  A.  W. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


255 


This  letter  refers  to  a  design  for  a  national  standard  (which 
was  not  adopted)  composed  of  the  emblematical  representations 

of  our  escutcheon  quartered 
upon  it,  viz  :  the  stars,  white 
on  a  blue  field*  on  the  upper  left 
hand  quarter ;  the  Goddess  of 
Liberty  on  a  white  field  under 
the  stars;  the  eagle  in  the  upper 
right  hand  quarter  or  fly  of  the 
standard  on  a  white  field,  and 
the  thirteen  alternate  stripes  of 
red  and  white  under  the  eagle. 

This  standard  it  was  proposed 
should  be  hoisted  over  the  halls 
of  congress,  at  our  navy  yards, 
and  at  other  public  places,  when 
visited  by  the  president  of  the 
United  States. 

On  the  iyth  of  January,  1818,  Mr  Wendover  wrote  Capt. 
Reid: 

"As  I  am  not  a  military  man  I  leave  to  others  to  regulate 
the  cockade.  I  shall  attend  to  the  'star  spangled  banner,' 
though  I  wish  the  other  changed  from  British  to  American." 

He  writes  again  under  date 

"  Washington,  March  24,  1818. 

*  *  *  "This  day  the  first  call  on  the  docket  was  the 
star  spangled  banner.  I  moved  to  go  in  committee  on  the 
bill.  General  Smith  moved  to  discharge  the  committee  of  the 
whole  and  postpone  the  bill  indefinitely.  I  appealed  to  that 
gentleman  and  the  house  if  they  were  willing  thus  to  neglect 
the  banner  of  freedom. 

"  Gen.  Smith's  motion  was  negatived  by  almost  a  unanimous 
vote,  and  we  hoisted  the  striped  bunting  in  committee  of  the 
whole.  After  I  had  made  a  few  observations  and  sat  down, 
Mr.  Poindexter  moved  to  strike  out  twenty  stars  and  insert 
seven,  with  a  view  to  have  stripes  for  the  old  and  stars  for  the 
new  states.  Motion  rejected  nearly  unanimously.  Mr.  Folger 
then  moved  to  strike  out  twenty  and  insert  thirteen,  to  restore  the 


256  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

original  flag;  his  motion  was  also  negatived  by  a  similar  vote. 
Mr.  Robertson  then  expressed  a  wish  to  fix  an  arbitrary  number 
of  stripes  say  nine,  or  eleven ;  but  no  one  seemed  to  approve 
of  his  idea,  and  the  committee  rose  and  reported  the  bill  with- 
out amendment  and  the  house  ordered  it  to  be  engrossed  for  a 
third  reading  to-morrow  by  almost  a  unanimous  vote.  It  was 
remarked  by  many  that  the  subject  came  up  in  good  time  as 
our  flag  almost  blew  away  with  the  severe  storm  which  on 
Saturday  was  almost  a  hurricane.  It  is  now  completely  '  ragged 
bunting,'  and  I  fear  we  shall  have  to  sit  a  part  of  the  session 
without  the  'star  spangled  banner'  over  our  heads. 

"Yours, 

"PR.  H.  WENDOVER. 

"P.  S.  March  25th.  Having  written  the  within  after  the  close 
of  the  last  mail,  I  kept  this  open  to  inform  you  further  as  to  the 
'star  spangled  banner.'  The  bill  had  its  third  reading  this  day, 
a  little  before  twelve  o'clock,  and  passed  with  perhaps  two  or 
three  noes;  after  which  Mr.  Taylor  moved  to  amend  the  title 
of  the  bill,  and  instead  of  alter  it  is  now  "a  bill  to  establish  the 
flag  of  the  United  States,"  which  goes  so  much  further  in  appro- 
bation of  your  plan,  as  the  bill  is  now  considered  by  our  house, 
as  fixing  permanently  the  flag,  except  so  far  as  to  admit  in 
every  new  planet  that  may  be  seen  in  our  political  horizon. 

"I  this  day  had  our  flag  measured  up  and  down  the  staff".  It 
is  fourteen  feet  and  four  inches,  but  it  ought  to  be  eighteen  feet 
hoist,  and  floating  in  the  air  in  proportion  say  twenty-seven  feet ; 
all  this  you  know  better  than  I  do.  Now,  Jack,  as  a  favor  that 
you  will  be  pleased  to  inform  me,  as  soon  as  convenient,  what 
a  flag  of  that  size  will  cost  in  New  York,  made  for  the  purpose, 
with  thirteen  stripes^  and  twenty  stars  forming  one  great  luminary , 
as  per  pasteboard  plan  you  handed  me.  And  if  the  bill  passes  the 
senate  soon,  it  is  probable  I  shall  request  the  captain  of  the  late 
Gen.  Armstrong,  to  have  a  flag  made  for  Congress  Hall  under 
his  direction.  Please  inquire  as  to  the  cost  of  materials,  etc.,  and 
write  me  soon  that  congress,  for  their  firm  support  of  the  bill, 
may  before  they  adjourn  see  the  banner  raised." 

He  writes  again, 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  257 

"  Washington,  Hall  of  Representatives, 

"April  9,  1818,  2  P.  M. 

*  "  This  morning  a  message  was  received  from  the 
president  that  on  the  4th  inst.,  among  other  bills,  he  approved 
and  signed  the  c  bill  to  establish  the  Flag  of  the  United  States,'  so 
that  notwithstanding  the  cant  and  flings  of  Coleman,  Hanson, 
etc.,  in  the  Evening  Post  and  Baltimore  Telegraph ,  the  proposi- 
tion for  the  alteration  of  the  flag  has  met  the  support  of  the 
house  of  representatives  and  passed  as  first  suggested.  In  the 
senate  the  bill  passed  unanimously. 

On  the  subject  of  the  standard,  and  distinctions  between  public 
and  private  vessels,  we  will  have  a  confabulation  when  I  see  you." 
Again  he  writes  : 

"  Washington,  April  13,  1818. 

"  DEAR  SIR.  I  have  just  time  to  inform  you  that  the  new 
flag  for  Congress  Hall  arrived  here  per  mail  this  day,  and  was 
hoisted  to  replace  the  old  one  at  2  o'clock,  and  has  given  much 
satisfaction  to  all  who  have  seen  it  as  far  as  I  have  heard.  I 
am  pleased  with  its  form  and  proportions,  and  have  no  doubt  it 
will  satisfy  the  public  mind. 

"  Mr.  Clay  (who  was  the  speaker  of  the  house),  says  it  is 
wrong  that  there  should  \&  no  charge  in  your  bill  for  making 
the  flag.  If  pay  for  that  will  be  acceptable,  on  being  informed 
I  will  procure  it.  Do  not  understand  me  as  intending  to  wound 
the  feelings  of  Mrs.  Reid,  nor  others  who  may  have  given  aid 
in  the  business,  and  please  present  my  thanks  to  her  and  them, 
and  accept  the  same  for  yourself. 

"  In  haste,  yours,  with  esteem, 

"  Pr.  H.  WENDOVER." 

The  following  is  the  law  which  agreeably  to  Capt.  Reid's 
suggestion  and  the  reports  of  the  committees  was  by  Mr. 
Wendover's  exertions  enacted  : 

AN  ACT  TO  ESTABLISH  THE  FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

SEC.  I.  Be  it  enacted,  &c.,  that  from  and  after  the  fourth  day 
of  July    next,  the  Flag  of  the  United  States  be  thirteen  hori- 
zontal stripes    alternate  red,   and    white;  that  the  union  have 
twenty  stars,  white,  in  a  blue  field. 
33 


258  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

SEC.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  that  on  the  admission  of  every 
new  state  into  the  union,  one  star  be  added  to  the  union  of  the 
flag!  and  that  such  addition  shall  take  effect  on  the  fourth  of 
July  next  succeeding  such  admission. 
Approved  April  4th,  1818. 

This  is  the  law  under  which,  half  a  century  ago,  our 
present  flag  was  established,  during  which  cycle  its  constellation 
of  twenty  was  increased  to  a  glorious  galaxy  of  thirty-seven 
stars,  and  the  borders  of  its  dominion  have  extended  across  the 
continent. 

It  is  an  unfortunate  omission  that  the  law  did  not  designate 
the  manner  of  placing  the  stars  in  the  union  ;  in  consequence  its 
uniformity  and  simplicity  is  frequently  destroyed  by  the  con- 
ceits of  ship-owners  and  others.  Capt.  Reid  suggested  that  for 
the  halls  of  congress  and  for  other  public  buildings  and  on  land 
the  stars  should  be  arranged  so  as  to  form  one  large  star,  and  on 
the  flag  made  by  Mrs.  Reid  the  stars  were  so  placed,  while  he 
proposed  that  the  flags  of  cur  ships  of  war  should  have  them  set 
in  parallel  lines. 

No  one  will  dispute  for  the  sake  of  uniformity  that  the  law 
of  1818  should  be  amended  in  this  respect.  Yet  when  in 

Feb.,  1859,  congress  passed  a  vote 
of  thanks  to  Capt.  S.  C.  Reid,  the 
designer  of  the  flag  although  a  friend, 
wrote  to  a  prominent  member  of 
congress  for  New  York,  requesting 
him  to  have  a  clause  inserted,  which 
would  fix  by  law  the  mode  of  arranging 
the  stars  in  their  blue  field  or  firma- 
ment, the  resolutions  were  passed 

Fac  simile  of  copper  plate  published  without  the  desirable  addition. 
1785. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1857,  a  gentle- 
man2 amused  himself  by  making  the  various  designs  displayed  on 
vessels,  hotels  and  public  buildings  in  New  York.  The 


1  In  this   illustration,   which  is   a  reduced  fac  simile  of  a  copper  plate  published  in 
Philadelphia,   1785,   the  stars,  thirteen  in  number,   are  arranged  in   the  ensigns   of 
the  ships  in  parallel  lines. 

An  engraving  of  New  York  published  in  the  British  Naval  Chronicle,  1805,  has 
in  the  foreground  a  pilot  boat  carrying  at  her  main  a  union  jack  studded  with  thirteen 
stars  also  arranged  in  three  parallel  lines. 

2  Mr.  S.  Alofsen.     See  Historical  Magazine,  1857. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  259 

majority  of  the  ships  had  the  stars  arranged  in  five  horizontal 
rows  of  six  stars  each,  making  thirty  stars  in  all  —  thirty-one 
being  the  proper  number  at  that  date.  Most  of  the  foreign 
vessels,  including  the  Cunard  steamers,  had  them  arranged,  as 
heraldists  would  say,  semee,  that  is,  strewn  over  the  union.  Some 
had  one  large  star  formed  of  thirty-one  small  stars,  and  this  style 
prevailed  at  places  of  public  amusement,  and  over  the  hotels  of 
New  York,  and  Jersey  city.  Other  vessels  had  them  in  a 
lozenge,  a  diamond,  or  a  circle.  One  vessel  had  one  large  star 
composed  of  smaller  ones,  within  a  border  of  the  latter  ;  another 
carried  the  thirty-one  stars  in  the  form  of  an  anchor,  and  yet 
another  had  this  anchor  embellished  with  a  circle  of  small  stars. 

Here  were  nine  specimens  of  the  flag  alike  in  the  thirteen 
stripes,  but  varying  in  the  design  of  the  union.  In  addition  to 
these  forms  I  have  seen  the  stars  arranged  in  the  letters  U.  S., 
and  in  other  initials,  those  of  the  owner  or  company  to  which 
the  vessel  belonged. 

It  was  just  such  dissimilarity  that  led  the  Dutch  government 
twenty  years  earlier  to  enquire  without  obtaining  a  clear  and 
satisfactory  answer  :  "  What  is  the  American  flag  ?" 

The  act  of  1818  was  approved  of  by  President  Munroe  on  the 
4th  of  April,  and  the  new  flag  was  hoisted  on  the  flag-staff  of  the 
house  of  representatives  on  the  I3th  of  the  same  month,  though 
the  law  provided  that  the  act  was  not  to  take  effect  until  the  4th 
of  July.1  This,  the  first  flag  of  the  kind  put  together  or  hoisted 
was  made  at  New  York  by  Mrs.  S.  C.  Reid,  under  the  direction 
of  her  gallant  husband,  its  designer,  and  the  twenty  stars  in  its 
union  representing  as  many  states  (Mississippi  having  been  admit- 
ted a  state,  Dec.  16,  1817),  were  arranged  to  form  one  great  star. 


1  Yesterday  about  two  o'clock  the  new  flag  of  the  United  States  was  hoisted  on 
the  flag-staff  of  the  house  of  representatives.  This  is  the  first  flag  that  has  been 
made  since  the  passage  of  the  act  for  altering  the  banner  of  the  nation.  It  was  made 
in  New  York,  under  the  direction  of  the  gallant  Capt.  Reid,  late  commander  of  the 
privateer,  Gen.  Armstrong.  The  stars  are  twenty  in  number,  and  so  disposed  as  to 
form  one  great  star  in  the  centre  of  a  blue  field.  The  stripes  are  thirteen.  The  law 
on  this  subject  goes  into  operation  the  4th  of  July,  next. — National  Intelligencer, 
April  14,  1818. 

On  the  list  of  February,  1866,  the  Hon.  Benjamin  F.  Butler  introduced  to  the 
officers  of  the  senate,  Mr.  D.  W.  C.  Farrington,  agent  of  the  United  States  Bunting 
Company  at  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  who  presented  to  them,  for  the  use  of  the  senate, 
a  magnificent  flag  manufactured  by  that  company,  twenty-one  feet  fly  by  twelve  feet 
hoist.  It  is  believed  to  be  the  first  real  American  flag  ever  raised  over  the  Capitol  of 
the  United  States.  Heretofore  all  our  flags  have  been  manufactured  from  English 


260  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  unions  of  the  flags  which  wave  over  our  fortresses,  and 
in  use  by  the  military  department  of  the  government,  are  gene- 
rally if  not  always  so  arranged.  In  the  navy  flags,  the  stars  are 
invariably  set  in  parallel  lines. 

Capt.  S.  C.  Reid,  the  designer  of  the  "  Our  flag,"  was  the 
commander  of  the  celebrated  privateer  General  Armstrong, 
whose  gallant  defence  of  her  in  Fayal  roads,  against  the  attack 
of  a  British  squadron  of  boats,  in  breach  of  the  neutrality  of  that 
port,  has  become  a  matter  of  history.  Capt.  Reid  died  in  1861, 
a  master  in  the  United  States  navy. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  in  the  rebellion  his  son  apostatized 
and  proved  recreant  to  the  flag  which  his  father  had  so  gal- 
lantly served  and  defended,  and  had  been  so  earnest  and  suc- 
cessful to  establish  in  a  permanent  form. 

The  first  state  to  add  a  star  to  the  constellation  of  the  new 
flag  was  Illinois,  admitted  December  3d,  1818;  then  followed 
Alabama,  admitted  December  I4th,  1819  ;  Maine,  March  I5th, 
1 820;  Missouri,  August  loth,  1821 ;  Arkansas,  June  J5th,  1836; 
Michigan,  January  26th,  1837;  Florida,  March  3d,  1845; 
Texas,  December  29th,  1845  J  Iowa,  December  28th,  1846  ; 
Wisconsin,  May  29th,  1848  ;  California,  September  gth,  1850  ; 
Minnesota,  February  I2th,  1858  ;  Oregon,  April,  1859  >  Kansas, 
March,  1861;  West-Virginia,  February,  1863;  Nevada,  Octo- 
ber 3 ist,  1864;  Nebraska,  March  ist,  1867.  The  last  in- 
creasing the  brilliancy  of  the  original  constellation  to  thirty-seven 
stars  which  is  its  present  number  and  there  ten  organized  terri- 
tories waiting  in  their  turn  admission1. 

bunting,  and  every  effort  made  to  substitute  a  domestic  texture  capable  of  resisting 
the  wind  and  the  air  has  signally  failed.  General  Butler  having  ascertained  this  fact 
at  the  navy  department,  and  feeling  an  interest  in  the  United  States  Bunting  Com- 
pany in  his  own  town,  informed  Captain  Fox  that  he  believed  that  company  had  pro- 
duced a  fabric  that  would  be  superior  to  the  foreign  article.  A  test  was  accordingly 
ordered  by  the  navy  department,  fully  realizing  the  confident  anticipations  of  Gen. 
Butler,  and  proving  the  American  bunting  to  be  better  in  color  and  in  quality  than 
the  English  product.  The  general  wrote  to  the  secretary  of  the  senate  for  authority 
to  make  a  present  of  one  of  these  flags  to  be  raised  over  that  body.  That  officer  hav- 
ing consulted  Mr.  Forster,  president  pro  tempore,  the  general's  proposition  was  cheer- 
fully accepted,  and  to  day  the  flag  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  sergeant-at-arms. 
Tomorrow  morning  it  will  be  hoisted  to  the  senatorial  flag-staff,  and  unfurled  to  the 
breeze." — Philadelphia  Press,  Feb.  23,  1866. 

1  Viz:  New  Mexico,  Washington,  Utah,  Dakota,  Colorado,  Arizona,  Idaho,  Mon- 
tana, Indian  Territory  and  Wyoming.  When  all  these  and  others  yet  to  come  are 
admitted  it  will  render  some  change  in  the  union,  or  disposition  of  its  constellation, 
essentially  necessary. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  261 

CHRONICLES  OF  THE  FLAG. 
1818-1861. 

When  the  Hon.  Joel  R.  Poinsett  of  South  Carolina,  subse- 
quently secretary  of  war  in  1837  to  1841,  throughout  the  ad- 
ministration of  Martin  Van  Buren,  was  the  United  States"  min- 
ster to  Mexico,  the  power  of  our  flag  to  protect  its  citizens 
abroad,  was  strikingly  illustrated,  as  related  by  Mr.  Poinsett 
in  a  speech  at  Charleston,  S.  C. 

The  election  of  Gomez  Pedraza  to  the  presidentship  of  Mexico 
was  not  acquiesced  in  by  the  people,  and  from  discontent  and 
murmurs  they  soon  proceeded  to  open  revolt.  At  night  they 
took  possession  of  the  Artillery  Barracks,  a  large  building,  and 
established  batteries  along  the  streets.  One  of  these  works  was 
situated  about  three  hundred  yards  from  Mr.  Poinsett's  house, 
and  immediately  under  the  tower  of  a  convent  on  which  men 
were  stationed.  After  several  ineffectual  attempts  had  been 
made  to  carry  this  work  by  infantry  in  front,  suddenly  a  squad- 
ron of  cavalry  that  had  succeeded  in  turning  the  flank  of  the 
battery,  sabred  the  men  at  their  guns.  When  the  battery  was 
silenced  the  troops  were  soon  driven  from  the  convent.  The 
convent  of  St.  Augustine,  situated  in  the  rear  of  Mr.  Poinsett's 
house,  was  the  last  to  yield  to  the  besiegers  who  were  composed 
of  the  common  people  of  the  city,  peasants  of  the  neighboring 
village,  mingled  with  the  civic  guard  of  Mexico,  and  deserters. 
While  the  firing  was  going  on  at  St.  Augustine,  Madame 
Yturrigaray,  widow  of  the  former  viceroy  of  Mexico,  who 
lived  in  the  adjoining  house,  rushed  in  almost  frantic  with  fear, 
and  implored  Mr.  Poinsett  to  protect  her  house.  While  he 
was  giving  her  assurances  of  protection,  a  shot  was  fired  at  him 
which  passed  through  his  cloak  and  buried  itself  in  the  shutter 
of  the  balcony  window.  He  retired  into  the  house,  and  soon 
the  besiegers  were  heard  approaching.  When  they  reached  the 
house,  one  wild  shout  arose,  and  a  desperate  effort  was  made  to 
burst  open  the  door.  The  massive  gates  resisted  their  efforts  ; 
a  cry  arose  to  fire  in  the  window ;  to  bring  cannon  ;  to  burst 
open  the  gates,  and  bitter  imprecations  were  uttered  against  the 
owner  of  the  house  for  sheltering  their  enemies,  the  European 


262  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Spaniards,  many  of  whom  had  sought  refuge  under  Mr.  Poinsett's 
roof.  At  this  moment  Mr.  Poinsett  directed  Mr.  Mason,  the 
secretary  of  the  American  legation,  to  throw  out  the  flag  of 
the  United  States.  This  was  gallantly  done,  and  they  both 
stood  on  the  balcony  beneath  its  waving  folds.  The  shouts 
were  hushed,  the  soldiers  slowly  dropped  the  muzzles  of  their 
guns,  which  were  leveled  at  the  balcony  and  windows.  Mr. 
Poinsett  seized  this  opportunity  to  tell  who  he  was,  what  flag 
waved  over  him,  and  to  claim  protection  for  those  who  had 
sought  security  under  it.  Perceiving  the  crowd  was  awed  and 
began  to  consult  together,  he  retired  to  dispatch  a  note  to  the 
commander  of  the  besieging  army.  The  servant  who  was  en- 
trusted with  the  note  returned  and  reported  the  crowd  was  so  great 
that  the  porter  was  afraid  to  open  the  gate  for  fear  the  crowd  would 
rush  in.  Mr.  Poinsett  then  resolved  to  go  himself,  and  was 
joined  by  Mr.  Mason.  They  proceeded  to  the  door,  which  the 
porter  was  ordered  to  open.  As  they  stepped  over  the  threshold 
the  great  crowd  rolled  back  like  a  wave  on  the  ocean.  They 
were  accompanied  by  a  native  servant,  who  mingled  with  the 
crowd,  and  before  the  crowd  had  recovered  from  its  astonish- 
ment the  two  gentlemen  had  returned  to  the  court  yard,  and 
the  door  was  closed  by  the  porter.  Before  they  reached  the 
front  of  the  house  they  heard  the  advance  of  the  cavalry  com- 
manded by  a  friend  of  the  legation.  The  gates  were  thrown 
open,  and  the  horsemen  rode  into  the  court  yard.  Their  com- 
mander stationed  sentinels  before  the  door,  and  Mr.  Poinsett  had 
the  satisfaction  to  redeem  his  promise  of  protection  to  Madame 
Yturrigaray.  His  house  was  respected  amidst  the  wildest  dis- 
order, and  those  who  sought  an  asylum  under  the  flag  of  the 
United  States  remained  in  perfect  safety  until  tranquillity  was 
restored. 

In  1839,  the  little  pilot  boat  schooner  Flying  Fish  of  90  tons, 
Lieut.  W.  M.  Walker,  attached  to  the  Wilkes  U.  S.  exploring 
expedition,  carried  our  flag  farther  south  than  any  other  vessel 
of  the  expedition,  and  penetrated  the  Antarctic  circle  farther  than 
the  keel  of  any  other  nation  had  furrowed  it. 

This  little  vessel  had  been  a  New  York  pilot  boat,  and  was 
introduced  into  the  squadron  without  any  addition  to  the  strength 
of  her  frame  j  so  that  her  security  among  the  ice  was  to  depend 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STAGES.  263 

altogether  on  her  good  qualities  as  a  sea  boat.  After  some 
necessary  repairs,  at  Orange  harbor,  Cape  Horn,  she  put  to 
sea,  with  a  complement  of  thirteen  souls,  under  command  of 
Lieut.  Wm.  M.  Walker,  U.S.N.,  whose  friends  took  leave  of 
him,  with  the  ominous  congratulation,  that  "  she  would  at  least 
make  him  an  honorable  coffin."1 

After  encountering  a  variety  of  stormy  and  tempestuous 
weather,  during  which,  "  the  very  creatures  of  the  brine 
seemed  to  know  the  vessel's  helpless  plight ;  for  a  large  whale 
came  up  from  the  deep  and  rubbed  his  vast  sides  against  her ; 
while  the  albatross  flapped  his  wings  in  their  faces  and  mocked 
them  with  his  bright  black  eyes.  "  On  the  loth  of  March, 
which  was  spent  at  the  pumps,  tfie  sea  toppled  over  the 
schooner  and  threatened  to  engulf  her.  Every  seam  leaked ;  every 
stitch  of  clothes  was  wet;  and  every  bed  inundated.  The  men 
had  to  swathe  their  feet  in  blankets,  lest  they  should  freeze ; 
and  as  the  driving  sleet  fell  on  their  garments,  it  congealed  there, 
and  incased  them  in  ice.  When  the  gale  abated,  after  a  dark 
and  dismal  night,  they  found  the  foresail  split,  and  the  jib  washed 
from  its  gaskets,  hanging  to  the  stay  by  a  single  hank.  They 
had  now  made  the  second  rendezvous  in  latitude  64°  S. 
longitude  90°  W.  ;  but  as  there  was  no  sign  of  the  Peacock, 
advantage  was  taken  of  the  fair  wind  to  proceed  on  their  course. 
The  condition  of  the  men  forbade  all  delays.  Five  out  of  a 
crew  of  ten,  were  almost  disabled  by  ulcerated  hands  and  swollen 
limbs  ;  while  the  rest  suffered  cruelly  from  rheumatics  and  catarrh. 
On  a  mild  and  sunny  day  (the  I3th,)  the  second  in  that 
bright  succession,  the  theatre  of  their  ambition  opened  to  their 
view.  Two  icebergs  stood  like  warders  at  the  gate  of  the 
Antarctic ;  and,  as  the  little  vessel  passed  between,  huge  columnar 
masses,  white  as  the  raiment  that  no  fuller  bleached,  and  which 
shone  like  palaces 

With  opal  towers  and  battlements  adorned, 
Of  living  sapphire." 

Soon,  however,  as  if  nature,  incensed  to  be  tracked  by  man 
to   her  last    inclement    solitude,    had    let  loose    all  her    furies ; 


ll  am   indebted  to  a  diary   appended  to   Thulia^a  tale  of  the  Antarctic,  by  J.  C. 
Palmer,  U.  S.  N.,  for  the  graphic  description  which  follows. 


264  ORIGIN  AND   PROGRESS  OF  THE 

the  tempest  drew  a  veil  of  snow  over  the  frozen  city,  and  the 
vessel  became  the  centre  of  a  little  area,  walled  by  the  piling 
seas.  It  is  impossible  for  any  one  to  fancy  the  awful  interest 
of  such  a  scene,  without  the  pent  up  feelings  of  the  spectators 
standing  where  human  foot  never  before  intruded,  an  unwel- 
come guest  in  the  very  den  of  storms. 

They  waited  some  time  at  the  next  rendezvous,  in  hopes  of  ob- 
taining surgical  aid  from  the  Peacock,  for  three  men  who  were 
quite  disabled.  This  delay  lost  them  a  fair  wind  ;  but  the  time 
was  well  employed  in  repairing  their  boats  ;  after  which,  though 
they  despaired  of  rejoining  their  consort,  Mr.  Walker  proceeded 
to  the  fourth  and  last  place  assigned  in  his  orders,  which  were 
thus  fulfilled  to  the  letter.  They  had  attained  the  longitude  of 
105  °W.  Ice  or  discovery  was  to  prescribe  the  bounds  of 
their  latitude ;  and  with  feelings  in  whose  enthusiasm  past  suf- 
ferings were  forgotten,  they  turned  their  faces  to  the  south. 
Icebergs  soon  accumulated  fast ;  and  the  sea  was  studded  with 
fragments  detached  from  the  large  island.  The  water  was 
much  discolored  during  the  day,  and  very  luminous  at  night. 
Penguins  appeared  in  prodigious  numbers  ;  and  the  air  swarmed 
with  birds.  Whales  were  numerous  beyond  the  experience  of 
the  oldest  sailor  on  board,  lashing  the  sea  into  foam  with  their 
gigantic  flukes,  and  often  in  mad  career  passing  so  close  to  the 
schooner,  as  to  excite  serious  apprehensions  for  safety.  A  fin- 
back once  kept  them  company  for  several  hours ;  and  a 
monstrous  right  whale,  of  greater  size  than  the  vessel  herself,  lay 
so  obstinately  in  her  track,  that  the  men  stood  by  with  boat 
hooks  to  bear  him  off. 

Every  hour  now  increased  the  interest  of  their  situation. 
A  trackless  waste  lay  between  them  and  all  human  sympathies ; 
and  each  step  removed  them  further  from  society.  On  the 
iQth  of  March,  they  passed  between  two  icebergs  830  feet 
high,  and  hove  to  near  one  of  them  to  fill  their  water  casks. 
Encompassed  by  these  icy  walls,  the  schooner  looked  like  a 
mere  skifF  in  the  moat  of  a  giant's  castle ;  and  the  visions  of  old 
'romance  were  recalled  by  the  gorgeous  blue  and  purple  lights 
that  streamed  through  the  pearly  fabrics.  The  very  grandeur 
of  the  scene,  however,  made  it  joyless.  The  voice  had  no 
resonance :  words  fell  from  the  lip,  and  seemed  to  freeze 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  265 

before  they  reached  the  ear ;  and  as  the  waves  surged  with  a 
lazy  undulation,  the  caverns  sent  back  a  fitful  roarlike  moan 
from  some  deep  dungeon.  The  atmosphere  was  always 
hazy  ;  and  the  alternation  of  mist  and  snow  gave  the  sky  a 
leaden  complexion.  When  the  sun  appeared  at  all,  it  was  near 
his  meridian  height ;  and  they  called  it  "pleasant  weather,"  if  the 
stars  peeped  out  but  for  a  moment ;  except  when  it  blew  with 
great  violence,  the  ice  broke  off  the  sea ;  but  their  nights  were 
so  pitchy  dark,  that  the  officer  of  the  deck  kept  his  watch 
in  the  forecastle,  and  depended  upon  his  ear  to  warn  him  of 
danger. 

On  the  2Oth  of  March,  in  latitude  69°O5/43//  S.,  and  longi- 
tude 96°  21'  30"  W.,  many  appearances  indicated  the  vicinity 
of  land.  The  ice  became  dense  and  black,  and  much  of  it  streaked 
with  dirt,  the  water,  too,  was  very  turbid  and  colder  than  usual, 
though  they  got  no  bottom  at  a  hundred  fathoms  line.  When  the 
mist  cleared  they  found  themselves  near  a  long  wall  of  ice.  On 
the  afternoon  of  the  2ist  the  sea  was  clear  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach ;  and  their  hopes  began  to  brighten  at  the  thought 
that  they  had  passed  the  French  and  Russian  limits,  and  were 
on  the  heels  of  Cook.1  As  long  as  a  glimpse  of  day  remained 
they  pressed  toward  the  goal  under  every  rag  of  sail.  Night 
set  in  with  mist  and  rain  ;  and  by  9  p.  M.,  it  grew  so  pitchy 
dark  that  they  were  obliged  to  heave  to,  with  a  fair  wind  from 
the  north.  At  midnight  it  blew  a  gale.  The  vessel  was  beset 
with  ice,  and  morning  found  them  in  an  amphitheatre  of  sublime 
architecture.  As  the  icebergs  changed  their  places  like  a  shift- 
ing scene,  the  prospect  beyond  them  seemed  to  reach  the  pole. 
Day  came  upon  this  boundless  plain.  The  eye  ached  for  some 
limit  to  a  space,  which  the  mind  could  hardly  grasp.  Mountain 
against  mountain  blended  with  a  sky  whose  very  whiteness  was 
horrible.  The  vessel  looked  like  a  mere  snow  bank,  every 
rope  a  long  icicle  j  the  masts  hung  down  like  stalactites  from  a 
dome  of  mist  ;  and  the  sail  flapped  as  white  a  wing  as  the  spot- 
less pigeon  above  them.  The  stillness  was  oppressive,  but 
when  they  spoke,  their  voices  had  a  hollow  sound,  more  painful 
even  than  silence.  The  schooner  had  become  thus  involved  by 


1  Capt.  Weddell,  in  1823,  attained  the  latitude  of  73°  S. 

34 


2(36  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

drifting  at  an  imperceptible  rate,  within  the  barrier,  while  the 
passage  behind  her  was  gradually  closed  by  ice  returning  from 
the  north.  There  was  no  alternative  but  to  buffet  her  through, 
or  be  carried  to  the  south  ;  and  by  9  A.  M.  (March  22d),  they 
reached  a  place  of  comparative  safety  in  latitude  70°  S.,  longi- 
tude 100°  W. 

On  the  24th  of  March,  the  schooner  was  obliged  to  force  a 
passage  out  of  the  ice,  under  circumstances  truly  appalling. 
The  waves  began  to  be  stilled  by  the  large  snow-flakes  that 
fell  unmelted  on  their  surface ;  and  as  the  breeze  died  away 
into  a  murmur,  a  low  crepitation,  like  the  clicking  of  a  death- 
watch,  announced  that  the  sea  was  freezing.  Never  did  fond 
ear  strain  for  the  sigh  of  love,  more  anxiously  than  those  devoted 
men  listened  to  each  gasp  of  wind,  whose  breath  was  now  their 
life.  The  looks  of  the  crew  reproached  their  commander  with 
having  doomed  them  to  a  lingering  death  ;  and  many  an  eye 
wandered  over  the  helpless  vessel,  to  estimate  how  long  she 
might  last  for  fuel.  Preparations  were  hastily  made  to  shesth  the 
bow  with  planks  torn  up  from  cabin  berths  ;  but  the  congela- 
tion was  too  rapid  to  permit  the  sacrifice  of  time  to  this  precau- 
tion. All  sail  was  accordingly  crowded  on  the  vessel,  and  after 
a  hard  struggle  of  four  hours  duration,  they  had  occasion  to 
thank  heaven  for  another  signal  deliverance. 

With  straining  oars  and  bending  spars, 
They  dash  their  icy  chains  asunder  ; 
,      Force  frozen  doors,  burst  crystal  bars, 

And  drive  the  sparkling  fragments  under  ! 

They  had  now  attained  the  latitude  of  70°  14'  S.,  and  esta- 
blished the  impossibility  of  penetrating  further  between  90°  and 
105°  W.  The  season  was  exhausted  ;  the  sun  already  de- 
clined towards  the  north  ;  day  dwindled  to  a  'few  hours  ;  and 
nothing  was  to  be  expected  from  moon  or  stars.  Under  these 
circumstances  Mr.  Walker,  after  thanking  his  crew  for  their 
zealous  cooperation,  announced  his  resolution  to  return  without 
delay.  On  the  next  afternoon  (March  25),  they  descried  and 
exchanged  cheers  with  the  U.  S.  S.  Peacock.  Both  vessels 
stood  northward  for  several  days  ;  when  the  Flying  Fish  was 
ordered  to  return  to  Orange  harbor,  where  on  the  nth  of 
April,  Lieui.  Walker  gave  up  his  command. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  267 

The  following  year  Wilkes  discovered  the  Antarctic  conti- 
nent, and  in  1841,  Sir  James  Ross  discovered  Victoria  land, 
with  two  Antarctic  volcanos  which  he  named  Erebus  and 
Terror,  after  his  ships,  and  penetrated  south  to  78°,  the  highest 
latitude  yet  attained. 

The  little  Flying  Fish  was  sold  in  China,  and  became  an 
opium  trader  and  smuggler  on  that  coast. 

The  first  United  States  vessel  of  war  to  carry  our  flag  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  through  the  straits  of  Magellan, 
though  many  little  sealing  schooners  under  our  flag  had  preceded 
'her, was  the  United  States  schooner  Shark,  Lieut.  Commander 
A.  Bigelow.  She  passed  Cape  Virgin,  Nov.  28,  1839,  and 
took  her  departure  from  Cape  Pillar  on  the  west  coast,  Dec.  31, 
1839,  commencing  the  new  year  in  the  Pacific,  having  been  in 
the  straits  thirty-three  days  and  a  half,  of  which  284  hours  were 
passed  under  way,  and  five  hundred  and  twenty-five  at  anchor. 

A  minute  account  of  her  passage,  written  by  Capt.  Bigelow 
to  the  secretary  of  the  navy  is  published  in  the  Army  and  Navy 
Chronicle  of  April  30,  1840,  in  which  Capt.  B.  says  ;  "  I  have 
been  thus  minute  in  describing  the  passage  of  the  Shark  through 
the  strait  of  Magellan,  I  believe  the  first  public  vessel  of  the 
United  States  which  has  passed  through  them,  thinking  that  you, 
sir,  in  common  with  the  officers  of  the  navy,  might  feel  some 
interest  in  the  narration.  It  has  long  been  a  disputed  question, 
whether  it  be  advisable  for  small  vessels  to  pass  through  the 
strait  from  east  to  west,  in  preference  to  doubling  the  cape.  My 
experience  would  tend  to  discourage  a  stranger  to  the  route  from 
attempting  it,  in  the  month  of  December  at  least,  though  it  is 
quite  probable  that  the  winds  may  have  been  as  adverse  to  the 
southward  of  the  cape  as  in  the  strait,  and  that  we  were  pecu- 
liarly unfortunate  in  our  weather.  Steam  has  now  made  the 
passage  through  the  straits  either  way  easy  and  common.  My 
conclusion  from  the  experience  of  a  single  passage  only,  is  that, 
for  small  vessels,  the  passage  from  west  to  east  is  preferable  to 
going  round,  as  wood  and  water  can  be  obtained,  and  the  dis- 
tance shortened.  At  any  time  while  we  were  in  the  strait,  a 
passage  to  the  eastward  could  easily  have  been  made  in  four 
days,  and  sooner  were  the  navigator  acquainted  with  the  channel, 
so  as  not  to  fear  being  under  way  in  the  night.  No  vessel  would 


268  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

be  likely,  however,  to  pass  without  touching  to  wood  and  water ; 
and  a  week  might  be  profitably  occupied,  even  with  a  fair  wind, 
in  getting  through.  I  should  doubt  the  policy  of  making  the 
passage  either  way  with  large  vessels,  though  our  whaling  ships 
frequently  pass  both  ways.  No  vessel  could  be  better  calculated 
to  pass  through  the  strait  than  the  Shark,  with  the  exception  of 
her  being  a  dull  sailer.  This,  however,  is  in  a  measure  com- 
pensated by  her  great  capacity  to  bear  sail.  I  doubt  if  a  large, 
or  even  moderate-sized,  square-rigged  vessel  could  have  made 
the  passage,  under  similar  circumstances,  in  double  the  time." 

The  steam  schooner  Midas,  Capt.  Wm.  Poor,  owned  by  R. 
B.  Forbes,  was  the  first  American  steamer  to  carry  our  flag 
around  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  for  China  in  1844.  She  left 
New  York  on  the  4th  of  November  of  that  year,  and  was  the 
first  American  steamer  to  ply  in  Chinese  waters.  She  returned 
from  China  under  sail  to  New  York  via  Rio  Janeiro,  where 
she  took  a  China  cargo.  Her  machinery  was  taken  out  and  she 
ran  out  of  Savannah  for  some  time,  owned  by  Messrs  Paddle- 
ford  &  Fay. 

The  auxiliary  steam  bark  Edith,  400  tons  Forbes  rig,  and 
owned  by  R.  B.  Forbes,  was  the  first  auxiliary  screw  steamer  under 
the  American  flag  that  went  to  the  British  Indies,  and  she  was  the 
first  American  square-rigged  screw  steamer  to  visit  China.  She 
was  launched  in  1844,  sailed  from  Boston  for  Bombay,  under 
Capt.  Geo.  W.  Lewis,  January  i8th,  1845,  and  came  back 
like  the  Midas  under  sail  with  a  China  cargo.  She  was  next 
chartered  to  the  war  department ;  took  stores  to  Brazos  Santiago, 
was  employed  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  during  our  war  with  Mexico, 
was  finally  sold  to  the  war  department  and  sent  to  California, 
where  she  was  transferred  to  the  navy,  and  lost  off  Santa  Barbara. 

The  first  American  propeller  packet  ship  to  carry  our  flag  to 
England,  was  the  Massachusetts  of  734  tons,  owned  by  R. 
B.  Forbes  and  having  engines  designed  by  Ericsson.  She  was 
launched  at  East  Boston  July  22,  1845;  and  sailed  from  New 
York,  commanded  by  Capt.  A.  H.  White,  September  17,  1845. 

She  made  a  second  voyage  to  Liverpool  under  Capt.  David 
Wood,  and  was  after  her  return  chartered  to  the  government, 
and  carried  General  Scott's  flag  to  the  capture  of  Vera  Cruz  ; 
was  transferred  to  the  navy  department,  and  went  through  the 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  269 

strait  of  Magellan  to  California.  During  the  recent  war  her 
engines  were  taken  out  and  she  was  refitted  as  a  store  ship  and 
named  the  Farralones.  She  was  for  some  time  stationed  at 
Panama  for  the  protection  of  the  isthmus.  After  the  war  she  was 
sold  in  San  Francisco,  and  at  the  latest  accounts  was  engaged  in 
carrying  wheat  from  that  port  to  Liverpool.  Correct  portraits  of 
both  the  Massachusetts  and  Edith  are  in  the  possession  of  the 
Naval  Library  and  Institute  at  Charlestown.  The  Marmion, 
Capt.  Page,  a  propeller,  had  preceded  the  Massachusetts  to 
England,  but  she  was  not  a  packet.  She  ended  her  days  in  the 
Mediterranean. 

In  February,  1846,  the  pilot  boat  Wm.  J.  Romer,  of  about 
100  tons  burthen,  sailed  from  New  York  for  Liverpool  on  a 
special  mission,  and  after  a  boisterous  passage  anchored  at  Cork 
on  the  6th  of  March.  Soon  after  her  arrival  she  was  boarded  by 
an  officer  of  H.B.McS.  Vanguard  with  orders  from  the  admiral 
to  haul  down  her  flag  or  pennant,  which  her  captain,  McGuire 
refused  to  do.  In  a  short  time,  the  officer  returned  with  a 
polite  apology  from  the  admiral,  stating  that  from  the  smallness 
of  the  vessel  he  had  taken  her  for  an  English  pilot  boat. 
Leaving  Cork  harbor  on  the  I3th  of  March  on  her  return  she 
arrived  at  New  York  on  the  nth  of  April  bringing  five  days 
later  news  from  Europe,  making  the  round  trip  in  sixty  days. 

The  first  man  to  raise  the  stars  and  stripes  in  California  was 
one  whose  name  has  not  passed  into  history,  Capt.  James  P. 
Arther,  a  native  of  Holland,  and  resident  of  Plymouth,  Mass. 
He  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Greene,  then  a  young  man, 
and  afterwards  of  Milton,  Mass.,  and  a  member  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts legislature. 

Captain  Arther  was  up  and  down  the  coast  of  California  as 
early  as  1825,  in  the  brig  Harbinger,  Captain  Steel;  but  the 
exploit  above  alluded  to  was  performed  in  1829,  at  which  time 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  Messrs.  Bryant  &  Sturgis  as  mate  of 
the  ship  Brookline,  Captain  Locke.  Mr.  Arther  and  his  little 
party  were  sent  ashore  at  San  Diego  to  cure  hides.  They  had 
a  barn-like  structure  of  wood,  provided  by  the  ship's  carpenter, 
which  answered  the  purposes  of  storehouse,  curing  shop  and 
residence.  The  life  was  lonesome  enough.  Upon  the  wide 
expanse  of  the  Pacific  they  occasionally  discerned  a  distant  ship. 


270  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Sometimes  a  vessel  sailed  near  the  lower  offing.  It  was  thus 
that  the  idea  of  preparing  and  raising  a  flag,  for  the  purpose  of 
attracting  attention,  occurred  to  them.  The  flag  was  manufac- 
tured from  some  shirts,  and  Captain  Arther  writes,  with  the 
just  accuracy  of  a  historian,  that  Mr.  Greene's  calico  shirt  fur- 
nished the  blue,  while  he  furnished  the  red  and  white.  "  It  was 
completed  and  raised  on  a  Sunday,  on  the  occasion  of  the  arrival 
of  the  schooner  Washington,  Captain  Thompson,  of  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,"  but  sailing  under  the  American  flag.  "  He  had 
a  sailing  master  with  him.  It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year 
1829  in  San  Diego."  So  writes  honest  Captain  Arther.  He 
further  states  that  the  same  flag  was  afterwards  frequently  raised 
at  Santa  Barbara  whenever,  in  fact,  there  was  a  vessel  coming 
into  port.  These  men  raised  our  national  ensign,  not  in  bra- 
vado, nor  for  war  and  conquest  of  course,  but  as  honest  men,  to 
show  they  were  American  citizens  and  wanted  company.  And 
while  the  act  cannot  be  regarded  as  in  the  light  of  a  claim  to 
sovereignty  it  is  still  interesting  as  a  fact  and  as  an  unconscious 
indication  of  manifest  destiny.1 

In  1842,  Commodore  Jones  of  the  United  States  navy,  under 
the  impression  that  the  United  States  were  at  war  with  Mexico, 
took  forcible  possession  of  Monterey,  hoisted  the  stars  and  stripes 
and  proclaimed  California  a  territory  of  the  United  States. 
Discovering  his  mistake  the  following  day,  he  hauled  down  the 
flag  and  made  such  apology  as  the  circumstances  would  admit.2 

The  Bear  flag  which  was  raised  at  Sonoma,  California,  June 
14,  1846,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Pioneer  Society  at  San 
Francisco.  It  was  made  of  white  cotton  and  red  flannel,  the 
skirts  of  an  old  lady,  and  had  painted  on  it  the  semblance  of  a 
grizzly  bear.  The  artist  was,  however,  so  unfortunate  in  his 
effort  that  the  Spaniards  called  it  the  Bander  a  Colchis,  or  Hog 
flag.  The  army  that  raised  this  flag  and  thus  undertook  to 
revolutionize  a  state  consisted,  all  told,  of  fourteen  Americans. 

During  this  time,  however,  General  John  C.  Fremont  was 
encamped  at  Sonoma  with  the  small  exploring  party  with  which 
he  had  just  crossed  the  plains,  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  desert, 
and  Sierra  Nevadas.  Over  his  headquarters  at  Sutler's  fort 


1  Boston  Daily  Advertiser. 

a  The  Discovery  of  Gold  in  California,  by  Ed.  E,  Dunbar. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  271 

there  floated  a  flag  with  one  star  !  On  the  4th  of  July,  1846, 
he  called  a  meeting  of  the  Americans  at  Sonoma,  and  under 
advice  from  the  general,  they  proclaimed  the  independence  of 
California  and  declared  war  against  Mexico.  In  all  this  General 
Fremont  was  acting,  without  knowing  that  the  United  States 
were  then  actually  at  war  with  Mexico,  or  that  on  the  8th  and 
9th  of  May  General  Taylor  had  gained  his  decisive  victory  on 
the  banks  of  the  Rio  Bravo.  lie  was  therefore  totally  unpre- 
pared to  hear  of  the  startling  event  of  the  raising  of  the  stars 
and  stripes  only  three  days  later  at  Monterey,  on  the  yth  of 
July,  by  Commodore  Sloat  commanding  a  United  States  squad- 
ron consisting  of  his  flag  ship,  the  frigate  Savannah  and  sloops- 
of-war  Cyane  and  Levant  then  at  that  port. 

Capt.  J.  B.  Montgomery1  of  the  United  States  sloop-of-war, 
Portsmouth,  then  lying  in  San  Francisco,  raised  the  United 
States  flag  on  the  Plaza  of  Yerba  Buena,  or  San  Francisco,  now 
Portsmouth  square,  on  the  next  day,  the  8th  of  July.2 

Since  that  date  the  flag  of  the  nation  has  constantly  waved  in 
token  of  sovereignty  over  California.  On  the  I4th  of  July, 
only  one  week  later,  the  British  man-of-war  Collingwood,  Sir 
George  Seymour  commanding,  arrived  at  Monterey  for  the  very 
purpose  of  doing  what  Commodore  Sloat  had  already  accom- 
plished. The  British  were  too  late  ;  the  Yankees,  already  in 
possession,  were  not  to  be  displaced  save  at  the  cost  of  a  war 
between  the  two  nations. 

The  honor  of  having  been  the  first  to  raise  our  flag  in  Cali- 
fornia has  been  claimed  for  Commodore  Robert  F.  Stockton, 
but  he  did  not  arrive  from  Honolulu  at  Monterey,  in  the  frigate 
Congress,  until  the  I5th  of  July,  the  day  after  the  arrival  of  the 
English  admiral,  when  to  his  surprise,  he  heard  of  these  occur- 
rences, and  found  our  flag  waving  over  the  old  Custom  House, 
and  in  the  plaza  where  the  Savannah  men  were  quartered.  On 
the  28th  of  August,  1846,  Commodore  Stockton  wrote  the  navy 
department :  "  I  have  now  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  the 
flag  of  the  United  States  is  flying  from  every  commanding  posi- 
tion in  the  territory  of  California,  and  that  this  rich  and  beauti- 
ful country  belongs  to  the  United  States,  and  is  forever  free 
from  Mexican  dominion." 


1  Now  Rear  Admiral  John  B.  Montgomery,   U.S.N.  Montgomery  street,    San 
Francisco,  is  named  for  him,  and  Portsmouth  Square  for  his  ship. 
"Log  of  the  Savannah. 


272  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

In  1848,  Lieutenant  Lynch  made  an  exploration  of  the 
river  Jordan  and  the  Dead  sea.  In  his  narrative  he  describes 
the  first  unfurling  of  our  flag  over  the  solitary  waters  of  the 
lake  of  Galilee,  and  the  Dead  sea,  upon  which,  according  to 
the  popular  belief,  it  was  certain  death  to  be  borne. 

After  describing  his  voyage  from  the  United  States  in  the 
store  ship  Supply,  and  describing  two  metallic  boats  designed  for 
the  expedition  and  named  by  him  Fanny  Skinner  and  Fanny 
Mason,  after  two  blooming  children,  Lieutenant  Lynch  says : 

"Friday,  March  3151,  1848.  Sent  to  Acre  for  horses  and 
hoisted  out  the  two  Fannies  and  landed  with  our  effects. 
Pitched  our  tents  for  the  first  time  upon  the  beach  without 
the  walls  of  Haifa  j  a  graveyard  behind,  an  old  grotto  looking 
well  on  one  side,  and  a  carob  tree  on  the  other.  For  the 
first  time,  perhaps,  without  the  consular  precincts,  the  American 
flag  has  been  raised  in  Palestine ;  may  it  be  the  harbinger  of  a 
regeneration  to  a  new  and  hapless  people." 

The  boats  were  afterwards  reembarked  and  taken  to  another 
point  of  the  coast,  and  again  landed  on  the  5th  of  April,  1848 
From  this  new"  point  the  start  of  the  caravan  for  the  interior 
is  thus  described : 

"  The  metal  boats  with  the  flags  flying  mounted  on  carriages 
drawn  by  huge  camels,  ourselves,  the  mounted  sailors  in  single 
file,  the  loaded  camel,  the  sherif  and  the  sheikh  with  their 
tufted  spears  and  followers,  presented  a  glorious  sight.  It 
looked  like  a  triumphal  march. "  Thus  organized,  the  party 
arrived  at  Tiberias  upon  the  shore  of  the  sea  of  Galilee,  and  the 
boats  were  launched  upon  its  sacred  waters  on  Saturday  the 
8th  of  April  1848.  Under  that  date  Lieut.  Lynch  says: 
"  Took  all  hands  up  the  mountain  to  bring  the  boats  down. 
Many  times  we  thought  that  like  the  herd  of  swine,  they  would 
rush  precipitately  into  the  sea.  Every  one  did  his  best,  and  at 
length  success  crowned  our  efforts.  With  their  flags  flying  we 
carried  them  triumphantly  beyond  the  walls  uninjured,  and 
amid  a  crowd  of  spectators  launched  them  upon  the  blue 
waters  of  the  sea  of  Gallilee,  the  Arabs  singing,  clapping  their 
hands  to  the  time,  and  crying  for  back  skish1 ;  but  we  neither 


1  Presents. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  273 

shouted  nor  cheered :  from  Christian  lips  it  would  have  sounded 
like  profanation.  A  look  upon  that  lake  ever  brought  to  remem- 
brance the  words,  Peace !  be  Still !  " 

"  Buoyantly  it  floated,  the  two  Fannies  bearing  the  stars  and 
stripes,  the  noblest  flag  of  freedom  now  waving.  Since  the 
times  of  Josephus  and  the  Romans  no  vessel  of  any  size  has 
sailed  upon  this  sea,  and  for  many,  many  years  but  a  solitary 
keel  has  furrowed  its  surface.  " 

On  the  1 8th  of  April,  in  passing  down  the  river  Jordan, 
at  the  Fountain  of  Pilgrims,  where  more  than  eight  thousand 
pilgrims  arrived  to  behold  them  as  they  bathed,  Lynch  was 
gladdened  by  meeting  two  of  his  countrymen,  who  in  turn 
were  gratified  at  seeing  the  stars  and  stripes  floating  above  the 
consecrated  river,  and  the  boats  which  bore  them  ready,  should 
it  be  necessary,  to  rescue  a  drowning  pilgrim. 

The  next  day,  the  iQth,  the  Dead  sea  was  entered  and 
our  flag  displayed  for  the  first  time  upon  its  waters.  Nine  days 
later,  on  the  28th,  news  having  been  received  from  Beyrut  of 
the  death  of  expresiderit  John  Quincy  Adams,  the  flags  were 
mournfully  displayed  at  half  mast,  and  at  noon  the  following 
day,  twenty-one  minute  guns  from  the  heavy  blunderbuss  on 
the  bow  of  the  Fanny  Mason  were  fired  in  honor  of  the 
illustrious  dead. 

On  the  Qth  of  May,  having  employed  the  previous  day  to  its 
construction,  he  pulled  out  in  the  Fanny  Skinner  and  moored 
a  large  float,  with  the  American  ensign  flying  in  eighty  fathoms 
of  water,  abreast  of  Ain  G'huiveir,  at  too  long  a  distance  from 
the  shore  to  be  disturbed  by  the  Arabs. 

As  their  party  approached  Damascus  on  its  return,  they  were 
advised  to  furl  our  flag  before  entering  the  city,  and  assured 
that  no  foreign  flag  had  ever  been  tolerated  within  its  walls. 
The  British  consul's  was  torn  down  on  the  first  attempt  to 
raise  it,  and  the  appearance  of  ours,  it  was  thought,  would  excite 
commotion,  and  lead  perhaps  to  serious  consequences.  As  they 
had  carried  it  to  every  place  they  had  visited,  they  determined 
to  take  their  chance  with  it  and  so  kept  it  flying.  Many  angry 
comments  were  evidently  made  by  the  populace  at  this  pre- 
sumption, but  as  they  did  not  choose  to  understand  what  their 
toorgeman  was  too  wary  to  interpret,  they  were  unmolested. 
35 


274  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Once  more  unfurling  it  at  their  camp  over  against  Jerusalem, 
they  finally   reembarked  our  flag  at  Jaffa,   the  ancient  Joppa. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  after  all  this  display  of  devotion  "to 
the  stars  and  stripes,  the  noblest  flag  of  freedom  now  waving," 
which  Captain  Lynch  has  so  carefully  recorded,  he  should,  from 
a  false  sense  of  paramount  duty  to  his  state,  have  deserted  its 
folds,  a  dozen  years  later,  in  the  hour  of  its  trial  and  danger, 
and  have  identified  himself  with  the  rebellion,  and  raised  his 
sacrilegious  hand  against  it. 

There  has  been  some  controversy  as  to  who  first  raised  an 
American  flag  on  the  heights  of  Chapultepec,  some  body  having 
said  incautiously  that  General  Read  did  the  gallant  act,  where- 
upon several  claimants  for  the  honor  came  forward. 

The  fact,  however,  that  the  lion  hearted  Read  did  not  first 
plant  the  colors  of  his  regiment  on  Chapultepec,  robs  him  of 
none  of  the  proud  laurels  he  won  in  Mexico.  It  was  Captain 
Barnard  of  Philadelphia,  now  dead,  who  seized  the  flag  of  the 
Voltigeurs  and  placed  it  in  triumph  on  the  captured  works  of 
the  enemy.  Read,  while  gallantly  bearing  the  colors  unfurled, 
in  the  progress  of  the  charge,  was  struck  down,  dangerously 
wounded,  and  his  name  appeared  in  the  first  list  of  the  killed. 
No  man  who  ever  knew  him,  doubts  for  a  moment  that,  but 
for  this,  Read  would  have  done  all  that  Barnard  accomplished. 

The  flag  of  the  Voltigeurs,  the  same  that  was  first  planted  at 
Chapultepec,  is  now  in  Louisville,  and  is  in  the  possession  of 
Isaac  Caldwell,  Esq.,  brother  of  Col.  George  Alfred  Caldwell, 
who,  with  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  led  the  "assault.  It  is 
shattered  and  battle-torn,  and  even  the  staff  shows  marks  of  the 
fierce  storm  through  which  it  was  carried. 

The  reports  of  Generals  Scott  and  Pillow,  and  Colonel  An- 
drews, the  latter  the  commander  of  the  Voltigeurs,  all  ascribe 
the  honor  of  first  planting  the  regimental  colors  on  Chapultepec 
to  Captain  Barnard.  Ripley's  history  also  gives  Captain  Barnard 
this  credit.  General  Pillow  says  in  his  report. 

"  Colonel  Andrews,  whose  regiment  so  distinguished  itself 
and  commander  by  this  brilliant  charge,  as  also  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Johnston  and  Major  Caldwell,  whose  activity  enabled 
them  to  lead  the  assault,  have  greatly  distinguished  themselve- 
by  their  gallantry  and  daring.  Captain  Barnard  with  distins 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  275 

guished  gallantry,  having  seized  the  colors  of  his  regiment,  upon 
the  fall  of  the  color-bearer,  scaled  the  wall  with  them  unfurled, 
and  has  the  honor  of  planting  the  first  American  standard  in  the 
works." 

When  the  Voltigeurs  were  disbanded  at  Baltimore,  a  number 
of  the  interesting  properties  of  the  regiment  were  forwarded  by 
General  Johnston  to  Colonel  Caldwell.  Among  these  was  the 
regimental  flag.1 

Col.  Caldwell,  in  1863,  was  drafted.  The  law  required  that 
he  should  personally  appear  before  the  board  of  enrollment  for 
release.  Knowing  his  physical  disability  from  age  and  chronic 
rheumatism,  the  board  wrote  him,  if  he  had  reason  to  fear  he  could 
not  get  exempted,  he  might  bring  his  Chapultepec  flag  with  him 
to  carry  out  to  the  Taylor  barracks. 

April,  1848.  A  party  of  twenty-five  American  officers,  four 
or  five  civilians,  thirty-five  dragoons  and  forty  infantry  of  the 
United  States  army  in  Mexico,  attempted  the  ascent  of  Popo- 
catepetl, which,  after  Mount  St.  Elias,  is  the  highest  eminence 
of  North  America,  having  an  estimated  altitude  of  from  17,720 
to  17,840  feet. 

Only  six,  of  the  hundred  and  fourteen  of  which  the  ascend- 
ing party  was  composed,  succeeded  in  reaching  its  summit  and 
raising  the  stars  and  stripes.  This  mountain  had  never  been 
ascended  since  the  time  of  Cortez. 

A  Spanish  officer  in  1519,  was  the  first  human  being  to  reach 
its  summit,  and  in  commemoration  of  his  success  was  permitted 
to  assume  for  his  coat  of  arms  the  figure  of  a  burning  mountain. 

On  reaching  the  final  slope,  our  successful  adventurers  di- 
rected their  steps  toward  a  black  rock  situated  near  the  edge  of 
the  crater,  about  the  middle  of  the  south  side,  and  at  ten  minutes 
past  ten  A.M.,  April  nth,  1848,  Lieut.  Stone  standing  on  the 
edge  of  the  crater,  and  before  the  other  five  had  arrived,  fastened 
the  stars  and  stripes  to  his  staff,  and  planted  them  on  the  very 
loftiest  peak  of  the  mountain,  exulting  with  loud  huzzas  at  his 
complete  success. 

Mr,  Baggely  an  Englishman,  and  a  professor  in  a  Mexican 
college,  arrived  soon  after  and  placed  close  beside  it  the  cross 
of  St.  George. 

1  Louisvil/t  Courier. 


276  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  unpleasant  effect  of  the  gases  did  not  permit  the  little 
parties  to  remain  on  the  edge  of  the  crater.  The  fumes  of  the 
sulphur  combined  to  cause  headache  and  nausea,  their  throats 
became  dry  and  swollen,  compelled  them  to  hasten  their  return. 
The  strange  sensations  passed  off  as  they  descended,  and  when 
at  2  P.M.,  they  reached  the  camp,  only  a  headache  remained. 

The  Indians  would  not  believe  they  had  reached  the  top,  and 
examined  their  heads,  saying,  "  It  was  impossible  for  any  one  to 
go  there  without  having  horns  grow  from  the  head."  Others 
asked  "  what  the  mountain  said  to  them." 

No  money  nor  entreaty  could  persuade  the  guides  to  go 
further  than  the  region  of  perpetual  snow,  which  in  that  latitude 
is  at  about  14,000  feet. 

About  a  month  later,  in  May,  1848,  Mount  Orizaba,  whose 
snow-clad  summit  is  seen  every  clear  day  from  Vera  Cruz, 
though  seventy  miles  distant,  and  the  sight  of  whose  symmetrical 
cone  often  cheers  the  mariner  when  more  than  a  hundred 
miles  distant  at  sea,  was  ascended  by  a  party  of  army  and 
navy  officers  who  planted  our  banner  upon  the  highest  peak  of 
its  frozen  summits.  Humboldt  tried  to  ascend  this  mountain, 
but  with  all  his  enthusiasm  failed,  and  the  feat  had  been  deemed 
impracticable. 

The  party  who  were  successful  in  raising  our  flag  where 
foot  of  man  had  never  before  trod,  consisted  of  nine  officers, 
twenty  soldiers  and  two  sailors,  who  all  encamped  on  the  second 
day  12,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  with  the  thermome- 
ter considerably  below  the  freezing  point. 

At  early  day-light  the  next  morning  the  party  again  set  out 
-and  were  soon  among  the  snow  and  ice,  the  air  became  rarified 
at  every  step  and  rendered  it  necessary  for  them  to  stop  and 
pant  for  breath.  When  they  had  attained  the  elevation  of 
15,000  feet,  the  party  with  few  exceptions  were  seized  with 
nausea  and  vomiting,  and  the  ascending  party  was  gradually 
diminished. 

When  the  summit  was  reached  only  three  army  and  two 
navy  officers  could  congratulate  themselves  on  having  reached 
the  goal  of  their  endeavor.  Arrived  at  the  summit  the  little 
party  shook  hands  and  sat  down  to  rest  and  enjoy  the  glorious 
prospect  before  them  :  Puebla,  Jalapa,  Cordova,  the  sea  ninety 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  277 

miles  away,  and  a  host  of  villages  on  the  plain.  They  descended 
a  short  distance  into  the  crater  and  brought  up  some  beautiful 
specimens  of  crystal  and  lava,  and  large  quantities  of  the  most 
beautiful  specimens  of  sulphur.  After  this  was  done  the  navy 
officers  set  up  the  American  flag  on  the  summit,  an  honor  to 
which  they  were  fairly  entitled,  as  it  was  made  overnight  of  the 
red  and  blue  shirts  of  the  sailors,  passed  midshipman  Robert  Clay 
Rogers  furnishing  his  white  one  to  complete  it.  This  flag  had  but 
thirteen  stars.  It  was  left  flying  with  a  bottle  beside  it  in  which 
was  a  paper  containing  the  names  of  the  successful  few.  The 
barometer  ceased  to  indicate  after  they  had  reached  an  altitude  of 
17,300  feet,  and  when  they  were  at  least  1,000  feet  from  the 
summit  according  to  their  estimate.  This  would  make  the 
height  of  Orizaba  over  18,300  feet,  instead  of  17,500  as  had 
been  estimated.  When  the  party  returned  they  slid  down  on 
the  snow  and  ice. 

At  the  close  of  our  war  with  Mexico  (1848),  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  by  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  "  That  the 
vice-president  be  requested  to  have  the  flag  of  the  United  States 
first  erected  by  the  American  army  upon  the  palace  in  the  capi- 
tal of  Mexico  deposited  for  safe  keeping  in  the  department  of 
state  of  the  United  States." 

In  answer  to  inquiries  at  the  department  of  state  concern- 
ing this  flag,  I  received  under  date,  Sept.  23,  1871,  the  following 
reply  :  "  This  department  is  unable  to  give  you  the  information 
which  you  desire,  as  it  does  not  have  the  flag  referred  to  in  its 
keeping.  It  is  most  likely  in  the  charge  of  the  war  department." 
Referring  them,  however,  in  another  letter  to  the  law  concerning 
it,  it  was  found  to  be  deposited  in  the  state  department,  and  de- 
scribed as  "  an  ordinary  United  States  flag  of  small  size,  tattered 
and  moth-eaten,  containing  in  its  union  twenty-eight  stars, 
arranged  in  four  rows,  each  row  containing  seven.  The  rows 
of  seven  stars  parallel  with  the  white  stripes." 

The  American  ensign  first  displayed  in  Japan  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  landing  of  Commodore  M.  C.  Perry  at  Uraga  on 
the  bay  of  Jeddo  in  July,  1853,  °Penmg  Japan  to  the  world 
after  two  hundred  years  of  seclusion,  and  which  was  unfolded 
at  the  treaty  of  Yokahama,  March,  1854,  counted  on  its  cluster, 


278  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

thirty-one  stars,  and  is  now  preserved  at  the  Naval  Academy, 
Annapolis. 

In  1856,  after  the  storm-cloud  of  war  had  rolled  away  from 
the  Crimea,  and  Sebastapol  was  once  more  opened  to  the  ships 
of  every  nation,  the  first  vessel  to  enter  its  closed  port  was  an 
American  ship,  The  Tray,  a  name  of  ominous  import  with  the 
stars  and  stripes  at  her  peak. 

The  yacht  Edith,  built  of  iron,  owned  by  R.  B.  Forbes  and 
sailed  from  Boston  in  the  fall  of  1858,  for  the  Rio  de  la  Platte, 
and  was  the  first,  and  it  is  believed  is  still  the  only,  vessel  of  the 
New  York  yacht  squadron  to  carry  the  American  flag  into 
south  latitude. 

A  letter  from  her  published  in  the  Boston  Courier  and  dated 
Rio  Uruguay,  latitude 32°  of  S.  longitude  58°  u'  W.,  March 
8th,  1859,  says:  At  Concepcion  we  found  the  Fulton  and 
Water  Witch,  vessels  celebrated  in  history,  the  last  as  the 
origin  of  the  Paraguay  expedition,  and  the  leader  of  that  memo- 
rable squadron  which  went  to  Cuba  to  protect  the  United  States 
flag  from  British  aggression "  *  *  We 

get  on  admirably  with  our  "squadron"  consisting  of  the  yacht 
Edith  and  steamer  Alpha ;  sometimes  she  tows  us  and  some- 
times we  tow  her,  and  always  excite  the  curiosity  of  the  natives. 
No  other  yacht  of  the  New  York  squadron  has  been  so  far  from 
home,  and  no  other  steamer  of  any  nation  has  been  so  far  up  the 
Rio  Negro  ;  at  this  point  she  deserves  to  be  called  the  Alpha,  and 
for  a  long  time  to  come  will  be  the  Omega. 

The  Alpha  was  a  little  iron  steamer  which  was  taken  out 
on  the  deck  of  the  brig  Nankin.  Some  asked  on  seeing  her  on 
deck,  whether  she  was  built  on  the  way  out  or  whether  the  brig 
was  built  around  her.  On  arriving  at  Montevideo  the  Nankin 
hauled  alongside  the  United  States  store  ship,  Supply,  and  with 
the  tackles  used  to  hoist  out  the  10  inch  guns,  the  little  steamer 
was  suspended  in  air,  the  brig  was  hauled  from  under  her,  and 
when  all  was  ready  to  launch,  the  main  yard  tackles  pennant 
parted,  and  down  she  went  ten  or  twelve  feet  into  the  water,  the 
fore-sling  slipping  off  at  the  same  time  ;  not  a  rivet  was  started 
and  no  harm  done. 

The  captain  of  the  little  steamer  went  to  the  Custom  House 
and  entered  her  as  a  new  arrival,  she  having  regularly  cleared 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  279 

at  the  Boston  Custom  House.  The  collector  of  course  opened 
his  eyes  very  wide  on  seeing  that  she  was  only  twenty  tons,  and 
asked  if  it  came  by  sea,  and  how  many  days  she  had  been  on 
the  voyage,  and  how  many  ports  he  had  touched  at  for  fuel,  and 
whether  he  had  shipped  any  water  or  incurred  any  danger  from 
gales  of  wind  on  the  way,  to  which  Capt.  Bessie  honestly  re- 
plied that  he  came  by  sea,  in  fifty-five  days,  and  had  put  in  no- 
where for  fuel,  having  been  mostly  propelled  by  sails,  that  he 
had  shipped  many  small  sprays,  but  no  large  seas,  that  she  was 
as  dry  and  safe  as  a  brig  of  300  tons  all  the  way  out,  that  he 
had  encountered  one  very  severe  gale  and  several  smaller  ones, 
but  that  she  lay  to  like  a  duck.  Then  the  collector  made 
notes  of  these  facts,  and  said  it  was  '  muy  curriosoj  and  opened 
his  eyes  again. 

The  Alpha  may  be  considered  as  the  parent  of  our  present 
naval  steam  launches,  those  efficient  tenders  to  our  ships  of 
war  and  surveying  vessels. 

The  yacht  Edith  was  only  47  days  in  making  the  passage 
out  from  Provinceton,  though  considerably  delayed  by  the  loss 
of  her  main  mast  close  to  the  deck  in  lat.  26°  S. 

Throughout  the  trials,  sufferings,  and  famines  of  Lieut.  Isaac 
N.  Strain's  unfortunate  Darien  exploring  expedition  in  1854,  so 
graphically  drawn  in  Mr.  Headley's  narrative :  "  our  flag  was 
sacredly  preserved." 

After  their  rescue,  and  while  pursuing  their  course  down 
river,  as  they  approached  the  Viragos  paddle  box  boat,  Strain 
was  desirous  to  hoist  an  American  ensign  and  asked  if  the  one 
they  started  with  had  been  preserved.  They  answered  yes. 
McGinness  had  been  entrusted  with  it,  and  had  carried  it  to  the 
last.  The  only  emblem  of  their  nationality  that  remained  to 
them,  he  had  wrapped  it  around  his  breast,  and  though  weapons, 
haversacks,  and  blankets  had  been  thrown  away,  he  would  not 
part  with  it.  Wounded  feet  that  needed  bandaging,  and  ulcer- 
ated limbs  and  tattered  garments  could  not  induce  a  man  to  devote 
that  cherished  symbol  to  his  own  use.  Without  reflection, 
Strain  ordered  McGinness  to  place  it  in  his  boat.  The  poor 
fellow  hung  back  for  a  moment,  and  cast  such  an  appealing  look 
to  Strain,  that  the  latter  asked  him  what  was  the  matter.  His 
eyes  instantly  filled  with  tears  and  he  replied  :  "  Captain  Strain 


280  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

I  have  never  parted  with  the  ensign  a  single  instant  since  you 
trusted  it  to  my  care  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  don't  take  it 
from  me  now." 

Touched  by  the  noble  devotion  of  the  man  Strain  said  :  "  By 
no  means  my  brave  fellow  shall  it  be  taken  from  you,  display  it 
yourself."  His  face  beamed  with  a  smile  of  thankfulness,  and 
unbinding  it  with  his  skeleton  hand,  from  the  rags  that  hardly 
covered  him,  he  gave  it  tattered  and  torn  to  the  wind,  and  three 
cheers  went  up  from  the  little  fleet.  "There  is  a  whole  poem  " 
adds  Headley  "  in  this  little  incident."  That  flag  had  been  dis- 
played when  they  marched  from  the  beach  of  Caledonia  bay  : 
it  was  unrolled  to  announce  their  deliverance. 

Once  more  only  was  it  used,  to  shroud  the  coffin  of  one  of  the 
expedition. 

In  1854,  Assistant  Surgeon  Elisha  Kent  Kane,  U.S.N.,  carried 
our  flag  to  the  land  nearest  the  pole  yet  discovered,  and  his  com- 
panion Morton  hoisted  it  on  the  borders  of  the  polynia  or 
open  sea  of  the  Arctic.  "  The  first  flag  that  ever  waved  over 
that  solitude." 

Doctor  Kane  narrating  the  event,  says  :  "  As  he  (Morton) 
neared  the  northern  land,  at  the  east  shore  which  led  to  Cape 
Constitution,  the  termination  of  his  labors,  he  found  only  a  very 
small  ice-float  under  the  lee  of  the  head  land,  and  crushed  up 
against  the  side  of  the  rock.  He  went  on,  but  the  strip  of  ice 
land  broke  more  and  more  until,  about  a  mile  off  the  cape  it  ter- 
minated altogether,  the  waves  breaking  into  a  cross  sea  directly 
against  the  cape.  The  wind  had  moderated,  but  was  still  from 
the  north,  and  the  current  ran  very  fast,  four  or  five  knots  per- 
haps. 

"  The  cliff's  were  here  very  high  ;  at  a  short  distance  they 
seemed  about  two  thousand  feet  :  but  the  crags  were  so  over- 
hanging that  Morton  could  not  see  the  tops  as  he  drew  closer. 
The  echoes  were  confusing  and  the  clamor  of  half  a  dozen  ivory 
gulls,  who  were  frightened  from  their  sheltered  nooks  were 
multiplied  a  hundred  fold.  The  mollemoks  were  still  numerous 
but  he  saw  no  ducks. 

"  He  tried  to  pass  around  the  cape ;  it  was  in  vain,  there 
was  no  ice  foot,  and  trying  his  best  to  ascend  the  cliffs,  he  could 
get  up  but  a  few  hundred  feet.  Here  he  fastened  to  his  walk- 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  281 

ing  pole  the  Grinnell  flag  of  the  Antarctic,  a  well  cherished 
little  relic  which  had  now  followed  me  on  two  polar  voyages. 
This  flag  had  been  saved  from  the  wreck  of  the  United  States 
sloop  of  war  Peacock  when  she  was  stranded  off  Columbia  river. 
It  had  accompanied  Commodore  Wilkes  in  his  far  southern  dis- 
covery of  the  Antarctic  continent.  It  was  now  its  strange 
destiny  to  float  over  the  highest  northern  land,  not  only  of 
America,  but  of  our  globe.  Side  by  side  with  this  were  our 
masonic  emblems  of  the  compass  and  square.  He  let  them  fly 
for  an  hour  and  a  half  from  the  black  cliffs,  over  the  dark  rock- 
shadowed  waters,  which  rolled  up  and  broke  in  white  caps  at 
its  base." 

Theodore  de  Sabla,  who  had  been  the  U.  S.  consul's  clerk,  and 
acting  postmaster  at  Panama,  and  who  in  1860  was  sent  to  Bolivia 
by  our  government  on  a  special  mission,  being  a  native  of  Louisi- 
ana, sympathized  with  the  rebellion  and  took  sides  against  our 
government.  Writing  from  Panama  to  a  former  navy  friend  on 
the  1 8th  of  July,  1861,  he  relates  the  following  curious  inci- 
dent with  regard  to  our  flag,  the  augury  of  which  was  happily 
not  fulfilled  unless  on  the  principle  of  the  fulfillment  of  dreams, 
by  contraries.  After  alluding  to  some  matters  of  a  business 
nature,  he  says :  "  We  had  a  glorious  fourth  here  at  my  house, 
rather  on  the  secess  side  though  as  you  may  easily  believe.  Capt. 
Mitchell,  Shryock  and  our  other  southern  friends,  late  of,  and 
now  offihe  navy,  were  there,  and  we  had  a  grand  time  of  it.  Sorry 
to  say  that  on  that  day  when  they  were  drinking  the  "union" 
at  the  United  States  Consulate,  about  2  o'clock,  P.M.,  the  flag 
staff  of  old  Corwine  (the  U.  S.  consul)  was  struck  by  lightning 
and  shivered  from  top  to  bottom,  and  the  flag  torn  to  pieces. 
Bad  omen  that  !  for  you  !  " 

On  the  4th  day  of  March,  1861,  Dr.  Hayes  of  the  Arctic 
expeditions  I  hoisted  a  flag  in  honor  of  Abraham  Lincoln  who 
was  supposed  to  be  the  president  of  the  United  States,  though  the 
fact  was  not  known  until  August  14,  when  the  expedition  ar- 
rived at  Uppernavick  on  its  return.  The  flag  was  made  by  F. 


1  This  expedition  sailed  for  Boston  July  6,  1860,  in  the  schooner  Spring  Hill  of 
133  tons,  renamed  the  United  States.  Her  officers  and  crew,  including  Dr. 
Hayes,  numbered  fifteen  persons.  It  was  designed  the  vessel  should  sail  on  the  4th 
of  July  but  the  weather  proved  unpropitious  and  her  departure  was  delayed. 

36 


282  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

L.  Harris,  and  a  curious  circumstance  connected  with  it  is  that 
it  was  made  with  but  eighteen  stars  on  account  of  lack  of  ma- 
terial with  which  to  make  more.  When  the  news  was  received 
of  the  election  of  Lincoln  five  months  afterwards,  it  was  found 
that  a  rebellion  had  broken  out  in  the  southern  states  leaving 
only  about  eighteen  states  true  to  the  union. 

Dr.  Hayes  had  accompanied  Kane  on  the  expedition  of  1854, 
when  Morton  caught  sight  of  the  open  Polar  sea.  During  the 
winter  of  1 860-61  he  took  up  his  quarters  at  Port  Foulke  x  and 
in  April,  1861,  left  his  ship  and  proceeded  up  Smith's  strait 
in  sleighs,  but  having  traversed  about  half  the  channel  was 
obliged  to  send  back  to  the  ship  most  of  his  exhausted  crew. 
Keeping  with  himself  only  three  hardy  companions  he  passed 
the  straits  and  proceeded  along  the  coast  on  the  ice. 

On  the  1 8th  of  May,  1861,  in  lat.  81°  30'  and  at  a  distance 
of  825  kilometers  from  the  pole,  Hayes  saw  before  him  a  vast 
sheet  of  water.  Everything,  says  he,  was  to  me  evident  proof 
that  I  had  reached  the  shores  of  the  Polar  basin,  and  that  the 
large  ocean  was  rolling  at  my  feet.  At  some  distance  from 
where  he  stood,  the  waves  sweeping  along  the  coast  were  break- 
ing to  pieces  the  ice  which  finally  disappeared.  There  Dr. 
Hayes  built  a  cairn,  and  planted  the  American  flag  upon  the 
most  northern  point  ever  reached  by  man.  Having  named  the 
headland  where  the  flags  were  raised,  Cape  Lieber,  and  the  ex- 
treme point  of  the  world  in  sight  to  the  northward,  Cape  Union, 
he  retraced  his  steps  to  Port  Foulke. 

We  will  let  him  describe  this  interesting  incident  in  the 
history  of  our  flag. 

"  The  Open  Polar  Sea.  Standing  against  the  dark  sky  at  the 
north,  there  was  seen  in  dim  outline  the  white  sloping  summit 
of  a  noble  headland,  the  most  northern  known  land  upon  the 
globe.  I  judged  it  to  be  in  latitude  82  deg.  30  min.,  or  four 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  the  north  pole." 

"  Nearer,  another  bold  cape  stood  forth ;  and  nearer  still  the 
headland,  for  which  I  had  been  steering  my  course  the  day  be- 
fore, rose  majestically  from  the  sea,  as  if  pushing  up  into  the 


1  So  named  by  Dr.  Hayes  for  Wm.  Parke  Foulke  of  Philadelphia  who  aided  in 
fitting  out  the  expedition,  and  died  before  its  return.  Dr.  Hayes  dedicates  his  narra- 
tive to  his  memory. 


FLAG  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES.  283 

very  skies  a  lofty  mountain  peak,  upon  which  the  winter  had 
dropped  its  diadem  of  snows.  There  was  no  land  visible  except 
the  coast  upon  which  I  stood. 

"  The  sea  beneath  me  was  a  mottled  sheet  of  white  and  dark 
patches,  these  latter  being  either  soft  decaying  ice  or  places 
where  the  ice  had  wholly  disappeared.  These  spots  were 
heightened  in  intensity  of  shade  and  multiplied  in  size  as  they 
receded,  until  the  belt  of  the  water-sky  blended  them  all  to- 
gether into  one  uniform  color  of  dark  blue.  The  old  and  solid 
floes  (some  a  quarter  of  a  mile  and  others  miles  across),  and 
the  massive  ridges  and  wastes  of  hummocked  ice  which  lay  piled 
between  them  and  around  their  margins,  were  the  only  parts  of 
the  sea  which  retained  the  whiteness  and  solidity  of  winter. 

"  All  the  evidences  showed  that  I  stood  upon  the  shores  of 
the  Polar  basin,  and  that  the  broad  ocean  lay  at  my  feet ;  that 
the  land  upon  which  I  stood,  culminating  in  the  distant  cape 
before  me,  was  but  a  point  of  land  projecting  far  into  it,  like  the 
Ceverro  Vostochnoi  Noss  of  the  opposite  coast  of  Siberia  ;  and 
that  the  little  margin  of  ice  which  lined  the  shore  was  being 
steadily  worn  away ;  and  within  a  month  the  whole  sea  would 
be  as  free  from  ice  as  I  had  seen  the  north  water  of  Baffin  bay, 
interrupted  only  by  a  moving  pack,  drifting  to  and  fro  at  the 
will  of  the  winds  and  currents. 

"  It  now  only  remained  for  us  to  plant  our  flag  in  token  of  our 
discovery,  and  to  deposit  a  record  in  proof  of  our  presence.  The 
flags  were  tied  to  the  whip-lash,  and  suspended  between  two  tall 
rocks  and  while  we  were  building  a  cairn,  they  were  allowed  to 
flutter  in  the  breeze  ;  then,  tearing  a  leaf  from  my  note-book,  I 
wrote  on  it  as  follows  : 

"  This  point,  the  most  northern  land  that  has  ever  been 
reached,  was  visited  by  the  undersigned,  May  i8th,  iQth,  1861, 
accompanied  by  George  F.  Knorr,  travelling  with  a  dog  sledge. 
We  arrived  here  after  a  toilsome  march  of  forty-six  days  from 
my  winter  harbor,  near  Cape  Alexander,  at  the  mouth  of  Smith 
sound.  My  observations  place  us  in  latitude  81  degrees  25 
minutes,  longitude  70  degrees  30  minutes  W.  Our  further 
progress  was  stopped  by  rotten  ice  and  cracks.  Kennedy 
channel  appears  to  expand  into  the  Polar  basin  ;  and,  satisfied 
that  it  is  navigable  at  least  during  the  months  of  July,  Austug 


284  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

and  September,  I  go  hence  to  my  winter  harbor,  to  make 
another  trial  to  get  through  Smith  sound  with  my  vessel,  after 
ice  breaks  up  this  summer.  I.  I.  HAYES. 

May  19,  1861." 

"  This  record  being  carefully  secured  in  a  small  glass  vial, 
which  I  brought  for  the  purpose,  it  was  deposited  beneath  the 
cairn  ;  then  our  faces  were  turned  homewards.  But  I  quitted 
the  place  with  reluctance.  It  possessed  a  fascination  for  me, 
and  it  was  with  no  ordinary  sensations  that  I  contemplated  my 
situation,  with  one  solitary  companion  in  that  hitherto  untrodden 
desert  ;  while  my  nearness  to  the  earth's  axis,  the  consciousness 
of  standing  upon  land  far  beyond  the  limits  of  previous  observa- 
tion, the  reflections  which  crossed  my  mind  respecting  the  vast 
ocean  which  lay  spread  out  before  me,  the  thought  that  these 
ice-girdled  waters  might  lash  the  shores  of  distant  islands  where 
dwell  human  beings  of  an  unknown  race,  were  circumstances 
calculated  to  invest  the  very  air  with  mystery,  to  deepen  the 
curiosity,  and  to  strengthen  the  resolution  to  persevere  in  my 
determination  to  sail  upon  this  sea  and  to  explore  its  furthest 
limits  ;  and  as  I  recalled  the  struggles  which  had  been  made  to 
reach  this  sea  —  through  the  ice  and  across  the  ice —  by  genera- 
tions of  brave  men,  it  seemed  as  if  the  spirits  of  these  old  wor- 
thies came  to  encourage  me,  as  their  experience  had  already 
guided  me  ;  and  I  felt  that  I  had  within  my  grasp  "  the  great 
and  notable  thing"  which  had  inspired  the  zeal  of  sturdy  Fro- 
bisher,  and  that  I  had  achieved  the  hope  of  matchless  Parry." 

The  flags  planted  upon  the  crag  were  a  small  United  States 
boat  ensign  which  had  been  carried  in  the  South-sea  exploring 
expedition  of  Captain  Wilkes,  and  afterwards  in  the  Arctic  ex- 
peditions of  Lieut.  Comdg.  De  Haven,  and  Doctor  Kane :  a 
little  United  States  flag  which  had  been  committed  to  Doctor 
Sontag  by  the  ladies  of  the  Albany  Academy  ;  two  diminutive 
masonic  flags  intrusted  to  Doctor  Hayes,  one  by  the  Kane  Lodge 
of  New  York,  the  other  by  the  Columbia  Lodge  of  Boston  ; 
and  the  expedition  signal  flag,  bearing  a  crimson  star  on  a  white 
field.  Doctor  Hayes  says  ct  being  under  the  obligation  of  a 
sacred  promise  to  unfurl  all  these  flags  at  the  most  northern 
point  attained,  it  was  my  pleasing  duty  to  carry  them  with  me, 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  285 

a  duty  rendered  none  the  less  pleasing  by  the  circumstance  that 
together  they  did  not  weigh  three  pounds." 

The  highest  point  attained  by  him  he  called  Cape  Lieber,- 
a  remarkable  peak  rising  above  Church's  monument ;  and  the 
bay  below  it  he  named  for  Lady  Franklin.  The  conspicuous  head- 
land which  he  vainly  attempted  to  reach  on  the  last  day  of  his 
northward  journey  was  named  Cape  Eugenie,  for  the  empress 
of  the  French  in  appreciation  of  the  kindness  of  French  citizens 
to  the  expedition,  another  prominent  headland  he  named  Cape 
Frederick  VII,  in  honor  of  the  king  of  Denmark,  to  whose  Green- 
land subjects  he  was  indebted  for  many  serviceable  attentions. 
The  noble  headland  which  in  faint  outline,  stood  against  the 
dark  sky  of  the  open  sea,  "  the  most  northern  known  land  upon 
the  globe,"  he  named  Cape  Union,  "  in  remembrance  of  a  com- 
pact which  has  given  prosperity  to  a  people  and  founded  a  nation," 
unknowing  that  at  that  very  time  fratricidal  hands  were  endeav- 
oring to  rend  that  glorious  union,  and  dissolve  the  compact,  which 
had  resulted  in  such  national  prosperity.  The  bay  lying  between 
Cape  Union  and  Cape  Frederick  VII  he  named  for  Admiral 
Wrangel  whose  fame  in  connection  with  arctic  discovery  is 
second  only  to  that  of  Sir  Edward  Parry,  and  the  lofty  peak 
behind  Cape  Eugenie,  overlooking  the  Polar  sea,  he  named  Parry 
mountain.  With  that  eminent  explorer  he  must  divide  the  honors 
of  extreme  northern  travel;  for  if  Parry  carried  the  British  flag 
upon  the  sea  nearer  to  the  north  pole  than  any  flag  had  been  carried 
hitherto,  Hayes  planted  the  American  flag  further  north  upon  the 
land  than  any  flag  had  been  or  has  since  been  planted.1 

1  Commander  James  Clarke  Ross,  R.  N.,  had  thirty  years  before,  viz.,  May,  1861, 
fixed  the  British  flag  on  the  north  magnetic  pole  more  than  eleven  degrees  to  the 
southward,  and  took  possession  of  it  and  the  adjoining  territory  in  the  name  of  Great 
Britain  and  King  William  IV.  He  erected  a  cairn  of  some  magnitude  under  which 
he  buried  a  cannister  record  of  the  interesting  fact,  regretting  he  had  not  the  means 
of  constructing  a  pyramid  of  size  and  strength  sufficient  to  withstand  the  assaults  of 
time  and  the  Esquimaux.  The  latitude  of  the  spot  was  70°  05'  I  $"  n.  longitude  96° 
46'  4"  s.  west  of  Greenwich.  The  latitude  of  the  magnetic  pole  is  unchangeable 
but  the  longitude  varies  with  every  succeeding  year.  It  is  sufficient  honor  for  Ross 
that  he  actually  stood  upon  the  magnetic  pole  of  1831.. 


PL.iX 


FLAGS     1861  -64 


CONFEDERATE 
186? 


CONFEDERATE 
(  BATTLE  FLAG) 


CONFEDERATE 


GEORGIA 


VIRGINIA 


SOUTH    CAROLINA 
1861 


CONFEDERATE 

PROPOSED  1862 


PART  V. 

THE  STARS  AND  STRIPES. 

A.  D.    1861-1872 


OUR  FLAG  IN  THE  GREAT  REBELLION. 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  WAR  AGAINST  OUR  FLAG  AND  UNION. 

OUR  FLAG  AT  FORT  SUMTER.     LOYAL  FLAG  RAISINGS. 

OUR  FLAG  IN  SECESSIA.     SOUTHERN  FLAGS. 

1861-1865. 


OUR  FLAG  SINCE  THE  WAR. 

THE  RETURN  OF  REGIMENTAL  FLAGS  AND  TROPHIES. 
ANECDOTES  AND  INCIDENTS. 

1865-1872. 


"I  am,  totis  virlbus,  against  any  division  of  the  union  by  the  North  river,  or  by  the 
Delaware  river,  or  by  the  Potomac,  or  by  any  other  river,  or  by  any  chain  of  mount- 
ains. I  am  for  maintaining  the  independence  of  the  nation  at  all  events." — J°^n 
Adams's  Letter,  March  13,  1789. 

"  If  Kentucky  to  morrow  unfurls  the  banner  of  resistance,  I  never  will  fight  under 
that  banner  j  I  owe  a  paramount  allegiance  to  the  whole  union,  a  subordinate  one  to 
my  own  state." — Henry  Clay. 

ff  When  my  eyes  shall  turn  to  behold,  for  the  last  time,  the  sun  in  heaven,  may  I 
not  see  him  shining  on  the  broken  and  dishonored  fragments  of  a  once  glorious 
union ;  on  states  dissevered,  discordant,  belligerent  5  on  a  land  rent  with  civil  feuds, 
or  drenched,  it  may  be,  in  fraternal  blood.  Let  their  last  feeble  and  lingering  glance, 
rather  behold  the  gorgeous  ensign  of  the  republic,  now  known  and  honored  through- 
out the  earth,  still  full  high  advanced,  its  arms  and  trophies  streaming  in  their  ori- 
ginal lustre,  not  a  stripe  erased  or  polluted,  not  a  single  star  obscured,  bearing  for  its 
motto  no  such  miserable  interrogatory  as  JVhat  is  all  this  'worth  ?  nor  those  other 
words  of  delusion  and  folly,  Liberty  first,  and  Union  afterwards,  but  everywhere  spread 
all  over  in  characters  of  living  light,  blazing  in  all  its  ample  folds,  as  they  float  over  the 
sea,  and  over  the  land,  and  in  every  wind  under  the  whole  heavens,  that  other  senti- 
ment, dear  to  every  true  American  heart,  '  LIBERTY  AND  UNION,  NOW  AND  FOREVER, 
ONE  AND  INSEPARABLE.'  " — Daniel  Webster. 

"  There  are  only  two  sides  to  this  question.  Every  man  must  be  for  the  United 
States  or  against  it.  There  can  be  no  neutrals  in  this  war,  only  patriots  or  traitors.  I 
express  it  as  my  conviction  before  God,  that  it  ie  the  duty  of  every  American  citizen 
to  rally  round  the  flag  of  his  country." — Stephen  A.  Douglass. 

"  I  have  served  my  country  under  the  flag  of  the  union  for  more  than  fifty  years, 
and  as  long  as  God  permits  me  to  live,  I  will  defend  that  flag  with  my  sword,  even 
if  my  own  state  assails  it." — Lt.  Gen.  Winfald  Scott. 

"  It  is  a  matter  of  great  anxiety  and  concern  to  me  that  the  slave  trade  is  some- 
times perpetrated  under  the  flag  of  liberty,  our  dear  noble  stars  and  stripes  to  which 
virtue  and  glory  have  been  constant  standard  bearers." — Lafayette  to  John  Adams, 
1786.  "  I  would  never  have  drawn  my  sword  in  the  cause  of  America  could  I  have 
conceived  that  thereby  I  was  founding  a  land  of  slavery." — Lafayette. 

"  The  national  ensign  pure  and  simple,  dearer  to  all  our  hearts  at  this  moment  as 
we  lift  it  to  the  gale  and  see  no  other  sign  of  hope  upon  the  storm  cloud  which  rolls 
and  settles  above  it  save  that  which  is  reflected  from  its  own  radiant  hues,  dearer  a 
thousand  fold  dearer  to  us  all  than  ever  it  was  before  while  gilded  by  the  sunshine 
of  prosperity  and  playing  with  the  zephyrs  of  peace  It  speaks  for  itself  far  more 
eloquently  than  I  can  speak  for  it.  Behold  it !  listen  to  it !  Every  star  has  a  tongue. 
Every  stripe  is  articulate.  There  is  no  language  or  speech  where  their  voices  are  not 
heard.  There's  magic  in  the  web  of  it.  It  has  an  answer  for  every  question.  It 
has  a  solution  for  every  doubt  and  every  perplexity.  It  has  a  word  of  good  cheer  for 
every  hour  of  gloom  or  of  despondency.  Behold  it !  listen  to  it !  It  speaks  of  earlier 
and  later  struggks.  It  speaks  of  heroes  and  patriots  among  the  living  and  among  the 
dead.  But  before  all  and  above  all  other  associations  and  memories,  whether  of 
glorious  men,  or  glorious  deeds,  or  glorious  places,  its  voice  is  ever  of  union  and  li- 
berty, of  the  constitution  and  the  laws.  Behold  it  !  listen  to  it !  Let  it  tell  the  story 
of  its  birth  to  these  gallant  volunteers  as  they  march  beneath  its  folds  by  day,  or  re- 
pose beneath  its  sentinel  stars  by  night.  Let  it  recall  to  them  the  strange  eventful 
history  of  its  rise  and  progress.  Let  it  rehearse  to  them  the  wondrous  tale  of  its  trials 
and  its  triumphs  in  peace  as  well  as  in  war." — Robert  C.  Winthrop,  Oct.  3,  1861. 


PART  V. 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  WAR  AGAINST  THE  FLAG  AND 

UNION. 

When  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  as  president  of  the 
United  States,  pledged  to  resist  the  extension  of  slavery  into  the 
territories,  and  to  confine  it  to  constitutional  limits  was  ascer- 
tained, the  existence  of  a  well  organized  conspiracy  against  the 
unity  of  our  republic  was  revealed.  The  leaders  of  this  attempt 
to  blot  from  our  banner  and  escutcheon  the  stars  of  their  states  had 
chosen  their  time  well,  but  in  the  providence  of  God,  their 
efforts  were  futile,  and  Old  Glory^  as  our  flag  was  baptized 
by  our  soldiers,  emerged  from  the  smoke  and  fire  of  four  years 
of  civil  conflict,  with  the  lustre  of  its  constellation  increased 
by  the  addition  of  new  stars,1  and  its  galaxy  brightened  and 
strengthened  from  the  experiences  of  the  war. 

The  choice  of  presidential  electors  by  ballot  took  place  Nov. 
6,  1860,  when  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180  of  the  303  votes  of 
the  electoral  college,  or  123  over  all  opponents.  But  of  the 
national  popular  vote  he  was  in  minority  979,163.  This  fact, 
and  that  in  the  nine  slave  states  no  republican  electoral  ticket 
was  elected,  gave  a  degree  of  plausibility  to  the  unfounded  as- 
sertion that  he  would  be  a  sectional  ruler,  and  that  he  was  pledged 
to  wage  a  relentless  war  upon  the  system  of  slavery,  and  the  rights 
of  the  slave  states.  That  his  election  had  been  legally  and  fairly 
conducted  was  not  denied,  or  that  he  was  pledged  to  absolute 
non-interference  with  the  rights  and  domestic  policy  of  the  states  ; 
but  these  facts  were  studiously  concealed  from  the  southern  peo- 
ple by  their  political  leaders. 

Robert  Barnwell  Rhett,  one  of  the  Hotspurs  of  South  Caro- 
lina, declared  that  "  all  true  statesmanship  in  the  south  consisted 


Virginia  was  admitted,  as  the  thirty  fifth  state  of  the  union  on  the  gd  of 
June  1863,  by  an  act  of  congress  approved  Dec.  31,  1862,  and  having  a  population 
of  nearly  400,000.  Nevada  was  admitted  Oct.  1864;  Nebraska  has  been  admitted 
since  the  close  of  the  war. 

37 


290  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

in  forming  combinations  and  shaping  events,  to  as  speedily  as 
possible  bring  about  a  dissolution  of  the  union,  and  a  southern 
confederacy."  Lawrence  M.  Keith,  a  representative  from 
South  Carolina  to  the  United  States  congress,  about  the  same 
time  publicly  declared  in  Washington  that  "  South  Carolina 
would  shatter  the  accursed  union."  Henry  A.  Wise  of  Va., 
wrote  to  a  northern  friend  :  "  The  south  will  not  wait  for  the 
4th  of  March.  We  will  be  well  under  arms  before  then." 
Howell  Cobb,  of  Georgia,  Buchanan's  secretary  of  the  treasury, 
while  on  a  visit  to  New  York  pending  the  canvass  said  at  a  pub- 
lic meeting,  he  did  not  believe  another  congress  of  the  United 
States  would  meet,  and  in  an  address  to  the  people  of  Georgia, 
that,  "on  the  4th  of  March,  1861,  the  federal  government  will 
pass  into  the  hands  of  the  abolitionists,  it  will  then  cease  to  have 
the  slightest  claims  either  upon  your  confidence  or  your  loyalty, 
and  in  my  honest  judgment,  each  hour  that  Georgia  remains 
thereafter  a  member  of  the  union  will  be  an  hour  of  degradation 
to  be  followed  by  speedy  and  certain  ruin.  I  entertain  no 
doubt  either  of  your  right  or  duty  to  secede  from  the  union." 
It  was  not  until  two  days  after  this  treasonable  address  that  he 
resigned  his  place  as  a  cabinet  officer  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  2Oth  of  November,  Jacob  Thompson  the  secretary  of 
the  interior,  wrote  :  "  My  allegiance  is  due  to  Mississippi.  A 
confederacy  of  the  southern  states  will  be  strong  enough  to 
command  the  respect  of  the  world,  and  the  love  and  confidence 
of  the  people  at  home." 

Mr.  Johnson,  of  Georgia,  from  his  seat  in  the  United  States 
senate  Dec.  5,  1860,  announced  that  the  slave  states  intended 
to  revolt.  "  We  intend  to  go  out  of  the  union"  he  said.  "  I 
speak  what  1  believe,  before  the  4th  of  March  five  of  the 
southern  states  at  least  will  have  declared  their  independence. 
We  intend  to  go  out  peaceably  if  we  can,  forcibly  if  we  must. 
If  five  or  eight  states  go  out  of  this  union  I  would  like  to  see 
the  man  who  would  propose  a  declaration  of  war  against  them, 
but  I  do  not  believe  with  the  senator  from  New  Hampshire 
(Mr.  Hale)  that  there  is  going  to  be  any  war." 

These,  and  there  were  many  more  like  them,  were  treason- 
able utterances,  but  at  the  time  were  considered  by  the  people 
of  the  northern  and  western  states  as  simply  the  intemperate 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  291 

outpourings  of  disappointed  politicians.  They  could  not,  or 
were  unwilling  to  realize  that  there  was  any  fixed  design  to 
break  the  bands  of  our  glorious  union. 

The  governors  and  legislatures  of  the  slaveholding  states 
took  early  action  against  the  national  government.  South 
Carolina  led  in  the  movement,  as  was  to  be  expected.  In 
1852  that  state  in  convention  had  declared,  "that  a  state  had 
a  right  to  secede  from  the  confederacy  whenever  the  occasion 
should  arise  justifying  her,  in  her  judgment,  in  taking  the  step," 
and  now  her  legislature  in  extraordinary  session,  the  day  before 
the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  recommended  preparations  for  re- 
volt. On  the  yth  of  Nov.  1860,  when  the  news  of  Lincoln's 
election  was  telegraphed  over  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
land,  Palmetto  flags  were  every  where  unfurled  -in  South 
Carolina.  Speeches,  harangues  and  salutes  of  cannon  followed, 
and  in  the  evening  the  city  of  Charleston  was  illuminated  by 
bonfires.  The  bark  James  Gray,  lying  at  one  of  the  Charles- 
ton wharves,  hoisted  the  Palmetto  flag  and  fired  a  salute  of 
15  guns.  Palmetto  cockades  were  generally  worn  in  the  streets. 
Two  days  later,  on  the  Qth  of  November,  a  bill  passed  the 
South  Carolina  senate  calling  a  convention  for  the  purpose  of 
secession,  which  was  concurred  in  by  the  house  on  the  I2th. 

Georgia  was  next  to  follow  the  bad  example  of  South  Caro- 
lina, her  legislature  by  a  heavy  majority  voting  that  a  sovereign 
state  had  a  right  to  secede  from  the  union.  On  the  I3th  of 
November  the  military  convention  by  a  large  majority  voted  in 
favor  of  secession,  and  its  action  had  great  weight  with  the  legis- 
lature and  people.  On  the  following  day  the  legislature  voted 
a  million  dollars  for  arming  and  equipping  the  militia  of  the 
state.  On  the  jth  of  December,  the  legislature  passed  an  act 
providing  for  the  election  of  delegates,  who  were  to  assemble 
on  the  1 6th  of  January  following.  The  preamble  of  the  bill 
asserted  that  the  "  Present  crisis  in  national  affairs  demands 
resistance,  and  that  it  was  the  privilege  of  the  people  to  de- 
termine the  mode,  measure  and  time  of  such  resistance." 

The  legislature  of  Mississippi  assembled  early  in  November, 
and  adjourned  on  the  3Oth,  its  special  object  being  to  make  pre- 
parations for  the  secession  of  the  state. 

The  southern   portion  of  Alabama  was  strongly  in  favor  of 


292  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

secession,  whilst  the  northern  portion  was  as  strongly  in  favor  of 
union. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Florida  legislature  the  governor  in  his 
message  declared  the  peace  and  future  prosperity  of  the  state  de- 
pended upon  secession.  Governor  Moore  called  an  extra  session 
of  the  legislature  of  Louisiana  on  the  loth  of  Dec.,  assigning 
the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  by  a  party  hostile  to  the  people  and 
institutions  of  the  south  as  a  reason.  In  his  message  he  said  he 
did  not  think  it  comported  with  the  honor  and  self  respect  of 
Louisiana,  as  a  slaveholding  state,  to  live  under  the  government 
of  a  black  republican  president,  although  he  did  not  dispute  the 
fact  that  Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  legally  elected. 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  convention,  Dec.  10,  1860,  and 
declared  "  The  union  now  subsisting  between  South  Carolina, 
and  other  states  under  the  name  of  '  The  United  States  of 
America,'  is  hereby  dissolved."  A  placard,  printed  half  an  hour 
after  the  vote  was  taken,  being  a  copy  of  the  secession  ordinance 
and  headed  in  large  letters  THE  UNION  IS  DISSOLVED, 
was  scattered  broadcast  through  the  town  and  hailed  with  joy. 

Florida,  which  had  been  bought  and  paid  for  with  the  money 
of  the  United  States,  followed  on  the  yth  of  Jan.,  1861,  and  un- 
gratefully declared,  "  The  state  of  Florida  hereby  withdraws 
herself  from  the  confederation  of  states  existing  under  the  name 
of  the  '  United  States  of  America,'  and  the  state  of  Florida  is 
hereby  declared  a  sovereign  and  independent  nation." 

Mississippi,  next  in  order,  on  the  Qth  of  January,  1861,  declared 
all  the  laws  and  ordinances  by  which  the  state  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  federal  union  of  the  United  States  of  America  re- 
pealed. 

Alabama,  on  the  nth  of  January,  declared  that  the  state  of 
Alabama  now  withdraws  from  the  union  known  as  "  The 
United  States  of  America,"  and  henceforth  ceases  to  be  one  of 
the  said  United  States,  and  is  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  a  sove- 
reign and  independent  state. 

Georgia,  on  the  I9th  of  January,  declared  and  ordered  in  a 
similar  way  that  her  union  with  the  United  States  of  America 
was  dissolved,  and  "  that  the  state  of  Georgia  is  in  full  possession 
and  exercise  of  all  those  rights  of  sovereignty  which  belong  and 
appertain  to  a  free  and  independent  state." 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  293 

Louisiana,  on  the  26th  of  January,  declared  her  union  with 
the  United  States  dissolved,  and  "  resumed  all  rights  and  powers 
heretofore  delegated  to  the  government  of  the  United  States," 
and  that  she  was  in  full  possession  and  exercise  of  all  those 
rights  of  sovereignty  which  appertain  to  a  free  and  independent 
state. 

Texas,  on  the  yth  of  February,  repealed  and  annulled  the  act 
ratified  by  her,  under  which  the  republic  of  Texas  was  admitted 
into  the  union,  and  resumed  all  the  powers  which  by  that  com- 
pact were  delegated  to  the  federal  government,  and  declared 
herself  "  a  sovereign  and  independent  state."  J 

Jefferson  Davis  was  elected  Feb.  8,  and  solemnly  inaugurated 
president  of  the  southern  confederacy  at  Montgomery,  Feb. 
22d,  1861. 

Thus,  nearly  a  month  before  the  inauguration  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
as  president  of  the  United  States,  seven  states  had  formally 
separated  themselves  from  the  union,  and  elected  a  president ; 
yet  no  effective  efforts  were  made  by  Buchanan's  outgoing 
administration  to  draw  them  back  to  their  allegiance  or  prevent 
their  departure.  The  union  seemed  indeed  to  be  only  held 
together  by  that  rope  of  sand  to  which  it  had  been  likened. 
The  people  of  the  loyal  states  looked  on  in  dazed  wonder  and 
amazement.  They  could  not,  or  would  not  realize  the  situation, 
and  that  under  the  fallacious  idea  of  state  sovereignty,  it  was  held 
to  be  in  the  power  of  one  of  the  states,  even  of  the  smallest, 
ignoring  the  rule  of  the  majority,  to  break  the  bond  of  union  in 
which  alone  was  strength,  and  scatter  into  as  many  petty  states 
or  principalities  the  glory  and  power  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  destroy  its  cherished  emblem  the  stars  and  stripes. 

The  power  and  policy  of  coercing  the  seceding  states  back  to 
their  allegiance  was  freely  discussed,  and  was  held  by  a  large  party 

1  These  were  all  the  states  that  formally  seceded  before  the  fall  of  Sumter, 
though  North  Carolina  was  represented  in  the  Montgomery  convention.  The  fall 
of  Sumter  hastened  Virginia  out,  on  the  1 7th  of  April,  1861.  Arkansas  pronounced 
herself  a  free  and  independent  state,  May  6th.  Tennessee  did  the  same  on  the  same 
day,  and  North  Carolina,  waiting  for  the  anniversary  of  the  declaration  of  Mechlen- 
burg  in  1775,  dissolved  her  connection  with  the  union  and  ratified  the  Montgomery 
constitution  on  the  zoth  of  May,  1861.  Making  eleven  states  in  all  that  formally 
dissolved  all  connection  with  the  United  States,  represented  by  as  many  stars  on  the 
confederate  banners. 


294  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

at  the  north  as  well  as  an  undoubted  majority  at  the  south, 
impracticable  and  impossible. 

Even  the  New  York  Tribune  said  :  "whenever a  considerable 
section  of  the  union  shall  deliberately  resolve  to  go  out,  we 
shall  resist  all  coercive  measures  designed  to  keep  it  in.  We 
hope  never  to  live  in  a  republic  whereof  one  section  is  pinned 
to  the  residue  by  bayonets.1 

Ex-president  Franklin  Pierce  wrote  to  a  friend  on  the  28th 
of  Nov.,  1860.  "One  decisive  step  in  the  way  of  coercion 
will  drive  out  all  the  slave-labor  states.  Of  that  I  entertain  no 
doubt." 

The  president  of  the  United  States,  Mr.  Buchanan,2  after 
putting  the  question,  u  has  the  constitution  delegated  to  congress 
the  power  to  coerce  into  submission  a  state  which  is  attempting 
to  withdraw  or  has  actually  withdrawn  from  the  confederacy  ?" 
Answered  it  by  saying,  u  after  much  serious  reflection,  I  have 
arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  no  such  power  has  been  delegated 
to  congress  or  to  any  other  department  of  the  federal  govern- 
ment. The  fact  is,  he  added, cc  that  our  union  rests  upon  public 
opinion,  and  can  never  be  cemented  by  the  blood  of  its  citizens 
shed  in  civil  war.  Congress  possesses  many  means  of  preserv- 
ing it  by  conciliation  ;  but  the  sword  was  not  placed  in  their 
hands  to  preserve  it  by  force."3  Mr.  Buchanan  acted  honestly 
no  doubt  up  to  this  belief  to  the  last  hour  of  his  official  life,  and 
witnessing  state  after  state  dissolving,  by  ordinance,  their  con- 
nection with  the  union  without  attempting  to  restrain  them, 
turned  over  a  divided  and  distracted  country  to  his  successor. 
It  required  the  attack  upon  Sumter  to  arouse  the  people  and  cut 
the  gordian  knot  of  political  policy  and  opinions. 

Prof.  S.  F.  B.  Morse,  the  originator  of  the  Electro-magnetic 
telegraph  in  the  United  States,  was  an  earnest  pleader  against 

1  New  York  Tribune,  Nov.  7,  1 8 60.      2  Buchanan's  Annual  Message,  Dec.  4,  1860. 

3  On  the  22d  of  Jan.,  in  an  address  in  Boston  On  the  Political  Lessons  of  the  Hour. 
"All  hail  disunion  !"  said  Wendell  Phillips,  the  anti -slavery  orator.  "  Sacrifice 
everything  for  the  union  ?  God  forbid  !  Sacrifice  everything  to  keep  South 
Carolina  in  it  ?  Rather  build  a  bridge  of  gold  and  pay  her  toll  over  it.  Let  her 
march  off  with  banners  and  trumpets,  and  we  will  speed  the  parting  guest.  Let  her 
not  stand  upon  the  order  of  her  going  but  go  at  once.  Give  her  forts  and  arsenals 
and  sub  treasuries,  and  lend  her  jewels  of  silver  and  gold,  and  Egypt  will  rejoice  that 
she  has  departed."  See  Clemens's  speech,  Congressional  Globe,  1860-61,  Appendix 
pages  103,  104,  and  Springfield  Republican^  Jan.  23,  1861. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  295 

coercion,  and  a  conspicuous  opponent  of  the  war  measures  of  the 
government  during  the  entire  conflict.  On  the  adjournment  of 
the  peace  convention,  he  was  elected  president  of  The  Ameri- 
can Society  for  the  Promotion  of  National  Union,  and  worked 
zealously  for  the  promotion  of  measures  that  might  satisfy  the  de- 
mands of  the  slaveholders,  before  "that  most  lamentable  and 
pregnant  error  of  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  "  had  been  committed. 
While  war  was  confined  to  threatening  and  irritating  words  between 
the  two  sections  of  the  country,  he  suggested  two  methods  by 
which  our  sectional  difficulties  might  be  adjusted  without  blood- 
shed, and  thus  stated  them  in  a  paper  drawn  up  when  the  pro- 
ject of  a  flag  for  the  southern  section  was  under  discussion  in 
the  journals  of  the  south  : 

"The  first  and  most  proper  mode  of  adjusting  those  difficul- 
ties is  to  call  a  national    convention  of  the  states,  to    which 
body  should  be  referred  the  whole  subject  of  our  differences ; 
and  then,  if  but  a  moiety  of  the  lofty,  unselfish,  enlarged,  and 
kind  disposition  manifested  in  that  noble  convention  of  1 787,  which 
framed  our   constitution,  be  the  controlling  disposition  of  the 
new  convention,  we  may  hope  for  some  amicable  adjustment. 
If  for  any  reason  this  mode    cannot  be  carried  out,  then  the  4 
second  method  is  one  which  circumstances  may  unhappily  force 
upon  us ;  but  even  this  mode,  so  lamentable  in  itself  considered, 
and  so  extreme,  so  repulsive  to  an  American  heart,  if  judiciously 
used,  may    eventuate  in  a  modified  and  even  stronger  union. 
This  is  the  temporary  yielding  to  the  desire  of  the  south  for  a 
separate  confederacy  ;  in  other  words,  an  assent  to  negotiations 
for  a  temporary  dissolution  of  the  present  union.     My  object  in 
this  mode  is  to  secure,  in  the  end,  a  more  permanent  perpetual 
union.     I  well  know  that  this  is  a  startling    proposition,  and 
may  seem  to  involve  a  paradox ;  but  look  at  it  calmly  and  care- 
fully, and  understand  what  is  involved  in  such  an  assent.     It  in- 
volves, as  a  paramount  consideration,  a  total  cessation  on  our  part 
of  the  irritating  process  which  for  thirty  years  has  been  in  operation 
against  the   south.     If  this   system  of  vituperation  cannot   be 
quelled  because  we  have  freedom  of  speech  ;  if  we  cannot  refrain 
from  the  use  of  exasperating  and  opprobrious  language  towards 
our  brethren,  and  from  offensive  intermeddling   with  their  do- 
mestic affairs,  then,  of  course,  the   plan   fails,  and  so  will  all 


296  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

others,  for  a  true  union.  If  we  cannot  tame  our  tongues, 
neither  union  nor  peace  with  neighbors,  nor  domestic  tranquility 
in  our  homes,  can  be  expected." 

This  apostle  of  peace  then  proceeds  to  notice  some  of  the 
formidable  difficulties  in  the  way,  such  as  fixing  the  boundary 
line  between  the  two  confederacies,  and  the  weighty  neces- 
sity of  maintaining  in  peaceful  relations,  a  standing  military  army 
and  an  army  of  custom  house  officials.  These  considerations, 
he  believed,  would  cause  a  perception  of  the  necessity  for  com- 
promise, "  which  embodies  a  sentiment  vital  to  the  existence  of 
any  society."  There  then  would  be  the  difficulty  of  an  equi- 
table distribution  of  the  public  property,  as  well  as  an  agree- 
ment upon  the  terms  of  a  treaty  "  offensive  and  defensive  be- 
tween the  confederacies."  "  Coercion,"  he  said,  "of  one  state 
by  another,  or  of  one  federated  union  by  another  federated 
union,"  was  not  to  be  thought  of.  "  The  idea  is  so  fruitful  of 
crime  and  disaster  that  no  man,  in  his  right  mind,  can  entertain 
it  for  a  moment.  " 

Supposing  these  matters  settled  to  the  perfect  satisfaction 
of  all  parties,  the  question  naturally  arose  in  the  mind  of  the 
writer,  "what  is  to  become  of  the  flag  of  the  union!"  He 
answered.  "The  southern  section  is  now  agitating  the  question 
of  a  device  for  their  distinctive  flag.  Cannot  this  question  of  flags 
be  so  settled  as  to  aid  in  a  future  union  ?  I  think  it  can.  If  the 
country  can  be  divided,  why  not  the  flag  ?  the  stars  and  stripes 
is  the  flag  in  which  we  all  have  a  deep  and  the  self-same  interest. 
It  is  hallowed  by  the  common  victories  of  our  several  wars. 
We  all  have  sacred  associations  clustering  around  it  in  common, 
and,  therefore,  if  we  must  be  two  nations,  neither  nation  can 
lay  exclusive  claim  to  it  without  manifest  injustice  and  offense 
to  the  other.  Neither  will  consent  to  throw  it  aside  altogether 
for  a  new  and  strange  device,  with  no  associations  of  the  past 
to  hallow  it.  The  most  obvious  solution  of  the  difficulties 
which  spring  up  in  this  respect  is  to  divide  the  old  flag,  giving 
half  to  each.  It  may  be  done,  and  in  a  manner  to  have  a 
salutary  moral  effect  upon  both  parties." 

"  Let  the  blue  union  be  diagonally  divided,  from  left  to  right 
or  right  to  left,  and  the  thirteen  stripes  longitudinally,  so  as  to 
make  six  and  a  half  stripes  in  the  upper,  and  six  and  a  half 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  297 

stripes  in  the  lower  portion.  Referring  to  it,  as  on  a  map,  the 
upper  portion  being  north,  and  the  lower  portion  being  south, 
we  have  the  upper  diagonal  division  of  the  blue  field  and  the 
upper  six  and  a  half  stiipes  for  the  Northern  Flag,  and  the  lower 
six  and  a  half  stripes  for  the  Southern  Flag.  The  portion  of  the 
blue  field  in  each  flag  to  contain  the  stars  to  the  number  of 
states  embraced  in  each  confederacy.  The  reason  for  such 
divisions  are  obvious.  It  prevents  all  dispute  on  a  claim  for  the 
old  flag  by  either  confederacy.  It  is  distinctive;  for  the  two 
cannot  be  mistaken  for  each  other,  either  at  sea  or  at  a  distance 
on  land,  each  being  a  moiety  of  the  old  flag,  will  retain  some- 
thing, at  least,  of  the  sacred  memories  of  the  past  for  the  sober 
reflection  of  each  confederacy.  And  then  if  a  war  with  some 
foreign  nation,  or  combination  of  nations,  should  unhappily 
occur  (all  wars  being  unhappy),  under  our  treaty  of  offense  and 
defense,  the  two  separate  flags,  by  natural  affinity,  would  clasp 
fittingly  together,  and  the  glorious  old  flag  of  the  union,  in  its 
entirety,  would  again  be  hoisted,  once  more  embracing  all  the 
sister  states.  Would  not  this  division  of  the  old  flag  thus  have  a 
salutary  moral  effect  inclining  to  union?  Will  there  not  also  be 
felt  a  sense  of  shame  when  either  flag  is  seen  by  citizens  of  either 
confederacy  ?  Will  it  not  speak  to  them  of  the  divisions  which 
have  separated  members  of  the  same  household,  and  will  not 
the  why  be  forced  from  their  lips.  Why  is  the  old  flag  divided  ? 
And  when  once  the  old  time-honored  banner,  bequeathed  to  us 
by  our  honored  ancestors  of  every  state,  shall  be  flung  to  the 
breeze  in  its  original  integrity,  as  the  rallying-point  for  a 
common  defense,  will  not  a  shout  of  welcome,  going  up  from 
the  Rio  Grande  to  Maine,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific, 
rekindle  in  patriotic  hearts  in  both  confederacies  a  fraternal 
yearning  for  the  old  union  ?  " x 

The  ordinances  of  secession  were  soon  followed  by  hostile 
acts. 


1  The  Civil  War,  by  B.  J.  Lossing,  vol.  I,  pages  245  -  7. 

Seccession  and  peace  flags  continued  for  some  time  to  be  raised  by  non-coercionists 
which  were  as  quickly  pulled  down  by  the  citizens  of  the  community  whose  feelings 
of  loyalty  they  insulted.  A  man  named  Stcclc  hoisted  a  secession  flag  at  East  Fair- 
haven,  Mass.  He  was  warned  day  after  day  but  refused  to  take  it  down.  He  refused 
to  comply  with  the  request,  and  threatend  to  shoot  whoever  attempted  to  take  it  down. 
After  parleying  awhile  he  was  taken  and  marched  three  miles  to  Mattapoisett,  where  a 

38 


298  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

On  the  loth  of  January,  1861,  a  ball  was  fired  athwart  the 
bows  of  the  steamer  Star  of  the  West  as  she  was  entering 
Charleston  harbor,  and  on  her  displaying  the  stars  and  stripes, 
the  rebel  fortification  fired  a  succession  of  shots. * 

The  next  case  of  artillery  practice  against  the  flag  was  at 
Vicksburg  on  Sunday  night,  January  13,  1861.  The  night  was 
dark  and  rainy,  and  as  the  steamer  A.  O.  Tylor,  Capt.  Colliers, 
unsuspecting  of  evil,  approached  the  wharf  boat  at  that  place, 
the  Quitman  battery  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  which  was  planted  about 
three  hundred  yards  above  the  wharf  boat,  threw  a  shot  across 
her  bows.  The  Captain  of  the  Tylor  not  knowing  what  it 
meant,  and  supposing  it  a  political  celebration,  continued  his 
course  to  the  landing.  The  artillerists  had  a  24  pounder  ready, 
and  her  not  heaving  to,  the  order  was  given  to  fire  into  her, 
and  the  match  was  applied,  but  fortunately  the  priming  was  wet 
and  would  not  go  off,  and  the  boat  escaped  injury.  Among 
her  passengers  were  seven  ladies.  The  gun  was  reprimed  with 
fresh  powder,  but  before  it  could  be  brought  to  bear,  the  Tylor 
had  passed  beyond  its  range  and  was  landing  at  the  wharf  boat, 
utterly  unconscious  of  the  peril  she  had  escaped.2 

The  southern  members  did  not  commence  withdrawing  from 
congress  until  January  12,  1 86 1 .  The  Mississippi  delegation  was 
the  first  to  withdraw,  though  JefF.  Davis  did  not  leave  until  the 
2 ist,  when  he  made  a  farewell  speech.  The  same  day  the  repre- 
sentatives of  Alabama  and  Florida  withdrew ;  a  week  later  the 
senators  from  Georgia,  and  on  the  4th  of  February,  the  senators 
from  Louisiana. 


coat  of  tar  and  feathers  was  applied  to  a  part  of  his  body,  giving  him  a  handsome  set  of 
tail  feathers,  and  then  he  was  compelled  to  give  three  cheers  for  the  stars  and  stripes,  and 
take  an  oath  to  support  the  constitution  and  never  again  raise  other  than  the  Ameri- 
can Flag.  *  *.  —  Boston  Transcript  April  agth. 

August  24th,  1861.  Two  attempts  were  made  in  Connecticut  to  raise  peace  flags, 
one  of  which  failed,  the  other  was  successful.  The  first  was  at  Stepney.  According  to 
previous  announcement,  a  meeting  was.  to  have  been  organized  after  the  flag  raising. 
No  sooner  was  the  flag  hoisted,  however,  than  the  union  men  made  a  rus-h  at  it,  and 
tore  it  into  shreds.  A  union  meeting  was  organized  which  passed  a  series  of  union 
resolutions. 

The  other  flag  was  raised  at  New  Fairfield,  about  four  hundred  persons  were  engaged 
in  the  enterprise.  Seventy  union  men  attempted  to  pull  it  down  and  a  desperate  fight 
ensued,  in  which  two  of  the  peace  men  were  seriously  injured.  *  *.  —  Rebellion 
Record  vol.  III. 

1  Charleston  Courier  January  loth,    1861. 

3  Loyal  (Patriotic)  Society  Tract. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  299 

The  day  the  senators  from  Louisiana  withdrew,  a  peace  con- 
vention or  congress  assembled  at  Willard's  Hotel,  Washington, 
in  which  twenty-one  of  the  states,  viz:  fourteen  of  the  free  and 
seven  of  the  slave  were  represented.  John  Tyler,  expresident 
of  the  United  States,1  was  appointed  to  preside.  Nothing 
however  resulted  from  its  conference,  and  the  failure  occasioned 
much  disappointment. 

The  day  the  peace  convention  assembled  at  Washington, 
witnessed  another  and  very  different  assembling  of  the  southern 
leaders.  Forty-two  delegates,  chosen  by  the  secession  convention 
of  six  of  the  southern  states,  met  at  the  State  House,  Montgomery, 
also  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting  a  scheme  for  the  destruction 
of  the  union.  Honorable  Howell  Cobb  of  Georgia  (fresh  from 
the  cabinet  of  the  president  of  the  United  States)  was  appointed 
the  presiding  officer.  The  next  day,  delegates  from  North  Caro- 
lina appeared  and  were  invited  to  take  seats  in  the  convention, 
and  a  provisional  government  was  formed.  On  the  22d  of 
February,  when  Mr  Lincoln,  pursuing  his  journey  to  Washington 
to  be  inaugurated  as  president  of  the  United  States,  raised  the 
stars  and  stripes  over  old  Independence  Hall  at  Philadelphia, 
Jefferson  Davis,  late  senator  -from  Mississippi,  was  inaugurated 
president  of  the  new  southern 'confederacy.  In  the  evening  he 
held  a  levee  in  Estelle  Hall,  and  Montgomery  was  ablaze  with 
bonfires  and  illuminations. 

On  the  nth  of  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln,  the  president 
elect,  left  his  home  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  for  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment, accompanied  by  a  few  friends.  A  large  concourse  of 
his  fellow  citizens  and  neighbors  gathered  at  the  railway  station 
to  wish  him  God  speed.  He  was  visibly  affected  by  this  kind 
attention  and  addressed  his  friends  and  neighbors  in  a  few  words, 

1  On  the  22d  of  Feb.,  1861,  James  Buchanan,  president  of  the  United  States, 
wrote  to  ex-president  Tyler,  apologizing  because  two  companies  of  United  States  troops 
performed  escort  duty  on  that  day.  He  said  :  "  I  found  it  impossible  to  prevent  two  or 
three  companies  of  federal  troops  from  joining  the  procession  to  day,  with  the 
volunteers  of  the  district,  without  giving  serious  offence  to  the  tens  of  thousands  of 
people  who  have  assembled  to  witness  the  parade.  The  troops  every  where  else  join 
such  processions  in  honor  of  the  birthday  of  the  father  of  our  country,  and  it  would 
be  hard  to  assign  a  good  reason  why  they  should  be  excluded  from  the  privilege  in 
the  capital  founded  by  himself.  They  are  here,  simply  as  a  posse  comitatus,  to  aid 
the  civil  authorities  in  case  of  need.  Besides,  the  programme  was  published  in  the 
National  Intelligencer  of  this  morning  without  my  personal  knowledge,  the  war  de- 
partment having  considered  the  celebration  of  the  national  anniversary  by  the  mili- 
tary arm  of  the  government  as  a  matter  of  course." 


800  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

and  requested  that  they  would  all  pray  that  he  might  receive  the 
Divine  assistance  in  the  responsibilties  he  was  about  to  encounter, 
without  which  he  could  not  succeed,  but  with  which,  success 
was  certain.  When  about  leaving  Springfield,  Mr  Lincoln  received 
from  Abra  Kohn,  the  city  clerk  of  Chicago,  a  fine  picture  of  the 
flag  of  the  union,  with  an  inscription  in  Hebrew  written  upon  its 
folds.  The  verses  being  the  4th  to  Qth  verses  of  the  1st  chapter 
of  Joshua,  in  which  Joshua  was  commanded  to  reign  over  the 
whole  land,  the  last  verse  being  as  follows  :  "  Have  not  I  com- 
manded thee?  Be  strong  and  of  a  good  courage;  be  not  afraid, 
neither  be  thou  dismayed :  for  the  Lord  thy  God  is  with  thee 
whithersoever  thou  goest. " 

We  will  not  attempt  to  detail  all  the  incidents  of  the  presi- 
dent elect's  journey,  which  occupied  several  days.  Everywhere 
he  was  greeted  with  demonstrations  of  profound  respect.  Occa- 
sionally he  briefly  addressed  the  crowds  who  came  to  see  him. 
His  journey  resembled  a  triumphal  progress.  Party  spirit  seemed 
for  the  time  forgotten  and  cheers  were  always  given  for  "Lincoln 
and  the  constitution."1  At  Indianapolis  he  was  welcomed  with  a 
salute  of  thirty -four  guns  ;  one  for  each  state  of  the  union.  The 
governor  of  the  state  received  him  in  person  and  escorted  him  to  a 
carriage,  which,  followed  by  the  members  of  the  legislature  and  the 
municipal  authorities  and  escorted  by  the  firemen  and  military,  con- 
veyed him  to  the  Bates  House,  where,  from  the  balcony,  he 
addressed  the  enthusiastic  multitude  assembled  to  greet  him.  He 
closed  his  remarks  by  saying  :  "  While  I  do  not  expect  on  this 
occasion  or  until  I  reach  Washington  to  attempt  any  long  speech, 
I  will  only  say,  to  the  salvation  of  the  union  there  needs  but  one 
single  thing,  the  hearts  of  a  people  like  yours."  "  In  all  trying 
positions  in  which  I  may  be  placed,  my  reliance  will  be  upon  you 
and  the  people  of  the  United  States.  It  is  your  business  to  rise 
up  and  preserve  the  union  and  liberty  for  yourselves."  In  the  even- 
ing he  addressed  the  members  of  the  legislature  who  waited  upon 
him  in  a  body  to  pay  their  respects.  On  the  I2th  at  noon  he 
reached  Cincinnati,  and  on  the  I3th  at  2.  P.  M.  Columbus,  where 
he  was  formally  welcomed  by  Lieutenant  Governor  Kirk  on  behalf 
of  the  legislature  of  Ohio,  assembled  in  joint  session  to  receive 

1  Raymond's  History  of  the  Administration  of  Lincoln. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  301 

him.     In  the  evening  he  held  a  levee  which  was  largely  attended. 
On  the  morning  of  the  I4th  he  left  Columbus,  and  after  a  brief 
and  formal  reception  at  Steubenville  reached  Pittsburg  the  same 
evening.     The  next  morning  the  mayor  and  common  council  of 
Pittsburg  waited  upon  him  and  gave  him  a  formal  welcome,  to 
which  he  briefly  responded.      He  was  accompanied  to  the  depot 
by  a  long  procession  of  the  people,  and  left  for  Cleveland  where 
he  arrived  about  half-past  four  in  the  afternoon.      His  arrival 
was  announced  by  a  salute  of  artillery,  and  he  was  escorted  by 
another  long    procession    through   the  principal  streets  to  the 
hotel,  where  he  addressed  the  assembled  multitude,  and  concluded 
his  remarks  by  saying  :  "  If  all  do  not  join  now  to  save  the  good 
old  ship  union  on  this  voyage,  nobody  will  have  a  chance  to  pilot 
her  on  another  voyage."    The  next  morning  he  left  for  Buffalo, 
where  he  was  welcomed  by  a  dense  crowd,  and  responded  briefly 
to  the   mayor's  welcoming  speech.     Remaining  at  Buffalo  over 
Sunday,  he  left  Monday  morning,  and  after  brief  receptions,  at 
Rochester,  Syracuse  and  Utica,  at  all  of  which  places  were  as- 
sembled enthusiastic  crowds  of  people,  reached  Albany  at  half  past 
two  in  the  afternoon,  where  he  was  formally  received  by  the  mayor, 
and  escorted  by  a  procession  to  the  steps  of  the  Capitol,  where 
he  was  welcomed  by  the  governor   of  New  York  in  the  pre- 
sence   of  an  immense  mass  of  the    people,  whom  he  briefly 
addressed.      He  was  then  escorted  to  the  hall  of  the  assembly 
and    received  by    the  legislature  of  the  state.     On  the    iQth, 
passing  through  Troy,  Poughkeepsie  and  Peekskill,  and  every- 
where enthusiastically  received,  he  reached  New  York  city  about 
3.  P.  M.     Arrived  at  the  Astor  House,  he  was  compelled  by  the 
importunity  of  the  assembled  crowd  to  appear  on  the  balcony 
and  briefly  address    it.     In  the  evening    he  addressed    a  large 
deputation  from  the  Republican  association  of  the  city.    The  next 
morning  he  was  officially  received  by  the  mayor  at  the  City 
Hall,  and  in  responding  to  the  mayor's  address  said  :  "  In  my  de- 
votion to  the  union  I  hope  I  am  behind  no  man  in  the  nation. 
I  am  sure  I   bring  a  heart    devoted  to    the  work.     There  is 
nothing  that  could  bring  me  to  willingly  consent  to  the  des- 
truction of  this  union,  unless  it  would  be  that  thing  for  which 
the  union  itself  was  made.     I  understand  that  the  ship  is  made 
for  carrying  and  preservation  of  the  cargo  ;  and  so  long  as  the 


302  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

ship  is  safe  with  the  cargo  it  shall  not  be  abandoned.  This 
union  shall  never  be  abandoned,  unless  the  possibility  of  its  ex- 
istence shall  cease  to  exist,  without  the  necessity  of  throwing  pas- 
sengers and  cargo  overboard.  So  long,  then,  as  it  is  possible  that 
the  prosperity  and  liberties  of  this  people  can  be  preserved  within 
this  union,  it  shall  be  my  purpose  at  all  times  to  preserve  it.  " 
These  were  brave  words,  for  that  time  of  doubt  and  peril, 
which  he  amply  redeemed. 

On  Thursday,  the  2ist  of  Feb.,  Mr.  Lincoln  left  New  York. 
On  reaching  Jersey  city  he  was  met  and  welcomed  in  behalf  of 
the  state  of  New  Jersey  by  the  Hon.  Wm.  L.  Dayton.  At 
Newark  he  was  welcomed  by  the  mayor,  and  at  Trenton  re- 
ceived by  a  committee  of  the  legislature  of  New  Jersey  and  es- 
corted to  both  branches  in  session.  In  answer  to  their  welcom- 
ing speeches  he  briefly  addressed  them. 

To  the  senate  he  said: — "I  am  exceedingly  anxious  that  this 
union,  the  constitution  and  the  liberties  of  the  people  shall  be 
perpetuated  in  accordance  with  the  original  idea  for  which  our 
struggle  for  national  independence  was  made  ;  and  I  shall  be 
most  happy  indeed  if  I  shall  be  an  humble  instrument  in  the 
hands  of  the  Almighty,  and  of  this,  his  most  chosen  people  as  the 
chosen  instrument,  also  in  the  hands  of  the  Almighty,  for  per- 
petuating the  object  of  that  great  struggle.  I  learn  that  this 
body  is  composed  of  a  majority  of  gentlemen  who,  in  the  exer- 
cise of  their  best  judgment  in  the  choice  of  a  chief  magistrate, 
did  not  think  I  was  the  man.  I  understand,  nevertheless,  that 
they  come  forward  here  to  greet  me  as  the  constitutional  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  as  citizens  of  the  United  States  to 
meet  the  man  who,  for  the  time  being,  is  the  representative  of 
the  nation,  united  by  a  purpose  to  perpetuate  the  union  and 
the  liberties  of  the  people." 

To  the  assembly  he  said  : — "I  appropriate  to  myself  very 
little  of  the  demonstrations  of  respect  with  which  I  have  been 
greeted.  I  understand  a  majority  of  you  differ  in  opinion  from 
those  with  whom  I  have  acted.  This  manifestation  is  therefore 
to  be  regarded  by  me  as  expressing  devotion  to  the  union,  the 
constitution  and  the  liberties  of  the  people.  Received  as  I  am 
by  the  members  of  the  legislature,  the  majority  of  whom  do  not 
agree  with  me  in  political  sentiments,  I  trust  I  may  have  their 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  303 

assistance  in  piloting  the  ship  of  state  through  this  voyage,  sur- 
rounded by  perils  as  it  is,  for  if  it  should  suffer  wreck  now,  there 
will  be  no  pilot  needed  for  another  voyage." 

The  presidential  party  arrived  at  Philadelphia  at  4  o'clock  and 
on  reaching  the  Continental  Hotel  Mr.  Lincoln  was  welcomed 
by  Mayor  Henry.  In  his  reply  he  said  :  "  You  have  expressed 
the  wish,  in  which  I  join,  that  it  were  convenient  for  me  to  re- 
main long  enough  to  consult,  or  rather  to  listen  to,  those  breath- 
ings arising  within  the  consecrated  walls  in  which  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States,  and,  I  will  add,  the  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence, were  originally  framed  and  adopted.  All  my  political 
warfare  has  been  in  favor  of  those  teachings.  May  my  right 
band  forget  its  cunning  and  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth 
if  ever  I  prove  false  to  those  teachings. 

The  next  (22d)  day  he  was  escorted  to  Independence  Hall. 
It  was  an  early  winter  morning,  and  as  the  president  had  to  visit 
the  legislature  at  Harrisburgh  in  the  afternoon,  in  a  special  train 
that  was  to  leave  at  8.30,  what  was  to  be  done  had  to  be  done 
quickly.  In  front  of  the  ancient  temple  of  liberty  a  platform 
was  erected,  from  which  Mr.  Lincoln  was  to  raise  the  national 
flag  with  its  thirty-four  stars.  As  he  approached  the  sacred 
spot,  in  a  carriage  drawn  by  four  white  horses,  escorted  by  the 
Scott  Legion,  with  the  flag  they  had  carried  to  victory  in  Mexico 
twelve  years  before,  the  scene  was  highly  dramatic.  The  whole 
populace  was  in  the  streets,  and  their  excitement  and  enthusiasm 
baffled  description.  It  recalled  Shakespeare's  picture  of  Boling- 
broke's  entrance  into  London  : 

You  would  have  thought  the  very  windows  spake, 
So  many  greedy  looks  of  young  and  old 
Through  casements  darted  their  desiring  eyes 
Upon  his  visage  ;  and  that  all  the  walls, 
With  painted  imagery,  had  said  at  once : 
"  Jesu  preserve  thee  !  Welcome  Bolingbroke  ! " 
Whilst  he,  from  one  side  to  the  other  turning, 
Bareheaded,  lower  than  his  proud  steed's  neck, 
Bespake  them  thus :  "  I  thank  you,  countrymen  ;" 
And  this  still  doing,  thus  he  passed  along. 

Leaving  the  carriage  at  the  door,  he  entered,  uncovered,  the 
sacred  Hall  of  Independence  and  there  used  this  language 


304  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

which  now  sounds  like  a  solemn  prophecy  :  "  The  declaration 
of  independence  gave  liberty,  not  alone  to  the  people  of 
this  country,  but  hope  for  the  world  for  all  future  time.  It 
was  that  which  gave  promise  that  in  our  time  the  weights 
should  be  lifted  from  the  shoulders  of  all  men,  and  that  all  should 
have  an  equal  chance.  This  is  the  sentiment  embodied  in  the 
declaration  of  independence.  Now,  my  friends,  can  this 
country  be  saved  upon  that  basis?  If  it  can,  I  will  consider 
myself  one  of  the  happiest  men  in  the  world  if  I  can  save  it. 
But  if  this  country  cannot  be  saved  without  giving  up  that  princi- 
ple— /  was  about  to  say  I  would  rather  be  assassinated  on  this  spot 
than  surrender  it."  And  then,  after  a  few  more  words,  he 
added  solemnly,  as  he  drew  his  tall  form  to  its  fullest  height, 
"  /  have  said  nothing  but  what  I  am  willing  to  live  by,  and,  in  the 
pleasure  of  Almighty  God,  TO  DIE  BY." 

When  he  walked  forth  to  face  the  mighty  concourse  outside, 
and  mounted  the  platform,  "  his  tall  form  rose  Saul-like  above 
the  mass."  He  stood  elevated  and  alone  before  the  people,  and, 
with  his  overcoat  off,  grasped  the  halyards  to  draw  up  the  flag. 
Then  arose  a  shout  like  the  roar  of  many  waters.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
expression  was  serene  and  confident.  Extending  his  long  arms, 
he  slowly  drew  up  the  standard,  which  had  never  before  kissed 
the  light  of  heaven,  till  it  floated  over  the  Hall  of  Independence. 
Tears,  prayers,  shouts,  music,  and  cannon  followed  and  sealed 
an  act  which  few  knew  was  only  the  beginning  of  unspeakable 
sufferings  and  sacrifices,  ending  in  his  own  martyrdom.2 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  22d  he  left  Philadelphia,  and  on 
reaching  Harrisburg  was  escorted  to  the  legislature  where  he 
was  welcomed  by  the  presiding  officers  of  the  two  houses.  In 
his  reply  he  spoke  of  his  part  in  the  morning's  drama  as  follows  : 

"  This  morning  I  was,  for  the  first  time,  allowed  the  privilege 
of  standing  in  old  Independence  Hall.  Our  friends  had  pro- 
vided a  magnificent  flag  of  our  country,  and  they  had  arranged 

1  Dec.  9.  1861. — There  was  another  flag  raising  at  Independence  Hall,  when  the 
sailors  and  marines  of  the  yet  unnoticed  Hartford,  now  inseparably  connected  with 
memories  of  Admiral  Farragut,  but  then  just  arrived  at  Philadelphia  from  the  East 
Indies,  marched  to  Independence  Hall  and  presented  to  the  city  a  splendid  silk  flag 
made  by  them  during  the  voyage  home.  The  flag  was  raised  at  noon  upon  the  flag 
staff  amid  great  enthusiasm,  and  salutes  were  fired  at  the  navy  yard  and  from  the 
Hartford. — Philadelphia  Inquirer. 

a  Anecdotes  of  Public  Men,  by  Col.  G.  W.  Forney,  published  in  the  Philadelphia 
Press. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  305 

it  so  that  I  was  given  the  honor  of  raising  it  to  the  head  of  its 
staff,  and  when  it  went  up  I  was  pleased  that  it  went  to  its 
place  by  the  strength  of  my  own  feeble  arm.  When,  accord- 
ing to  the  arrangement,  the  cord  was  pulled,  and  it  flaunted 
gloriously  to  the  wind  without  an  accident,  in  the  bright,  glowing 
sunshine  of  the  morning,  I  could  not  help  hoping  that  there 
was,  in  the  entire  success  of  that  beautiful  ceremony,  at  least 
something  of  an  omen  of  what  is  to  come.  Nor  could  I  help 
feeling  then,  as  I  have  often  felt,  that  in  the  whole  of  that  pro- 
ceeding I  was  a  very  humble  instrument.  I  had  not  provided 
the  flag.  I  had  not  made  the  arrangement  for  elevating  it  to 
its  place.  I  had  applied  a  very  small  portion  even  of  my  feeble 
strength  in  raising  it.  In  the  whole  transaction  I  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  people  who  had  arranged  it.  And  if  I  can  have 
the  same  generous  co-operation  of  the  people  of  this  nation,  I 
think  the  flag  of  our  country  may  yet  be  kept  flaunting  glori- 
ously." 

After  the  delivery  of  this  address  Mr.  Lincoln  devoted  some 
hours  to  the  reception  of  visitors,  and  at  six  o'clock  retired  to 
his  room.  The  next  morning  the  whole  country  was  sur- 
prised to  learn  that  he  had  arrived  at  Washington,  twelve  hours 
sooner  than  he  had  originally  intended.  His  sudden  departure 
proved  to  have  been  a  measure  of  precaution  for  which  events, 
subsequently  disclosed,  afforded  a  full  justification.  An  attempt 
was  made  on  the  Toledo  and  Western  Railroad,  on  the  nth 
of  Feb.,  to  throw  from  the  track  the  train  on  w.hich  he  was  jour- 
neying, and  as  he  was  leaving  Cincinnati  a  hand  grenade  was 
found  to  have  been  secreted  on  board  the  cars.  At  Baltimore, 
an  organized  and  thorough  investigation,  under  the  directions 
of  a  police  detective,  resulted  in  disclosing  that  a  small  gang  of 
assassins  under  the  leadership  of  an  Italian,  had  arranged  to 
take  his  life  during  his  passage  through  Baltimore.  In  conse- 
quence of  what  was  considered  reliable  information  of  this  in- 
tention, Mr.  Lincoln  so  far  deviated  from  the  programme  he 
had  marked  out  for  himself  as  to  anticipate  by  one  train  the 
time  he  expected  to  arrive  in  Washington,1  and  reached  that 


1  Mr.  Lincoln's  narrative  of  his  clandestine  journey  from  Philadelphia  to  Washing- 
ton and  his  reason  therefor,  substantially  in  his  own  words,  can  be  found  in  Losting't 
Civil  ff^ar,  vol.  i,  pages  279,  280. 


306  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

city  on  the  morning  of  Saturday,  the  23d  of  Feb.  On  the  4th 
of  March,  1861,  he  took  the  oath  and  assumed  the  duties  of  the 
presidential  office. 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  inauguration,  under  the 
directions  of  the  authorities  of  the  rebel  confederacy,  nearly 
all  the  forts,  arsenals,  dock-yards,  custom-houses,  etc.,  be- 
longing to  the  United  States,  within  the  limits  of  the  seceded 
states,  had  been  seized  and  were  held  by  the  representatives  of 
the  rebel  government.  The  only  forts  in  the  south  remaining 
in  the  possession  of  the  union,  were  Forts  Pickens,  Taylor  and 
Jefferson  on  the  Florida  coast,  and  Fort  Sumter  in  Charleston 
harbor  ;  and  preparations  were  far  advanced  by  the  rebels  for  the 
reduction  and  capture  of  them.  Officers  of  the  army  and  navy 
from  the  south  had  resigned  their  commissions  and  entered 
the  rebel  service.  Civil  officers,  representing  the  United  States 
within  the  limits  of  the  southern  states,  could  no  longer  dis- 
charge their  functions,  and  all  the  powers  of  that  government 
were  practically  paralyzed.1  To  restore  order  out  of  this  chaos, 
and  to  uphold  and  preserve  the  union  of  the  states  and  the  supre- 
macy of  the  flag  of  the  United  States  was  the  task  before  him. 
It  was  under  these  circumstances  that  Mr.  Lincoln  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  his  high  office  and  addressed  himself  first  to 
the  task  of  withholding  the  border  states  from  joining  the  con- 
federacy, as  an  indispensable  preliminary  to  the  great  work  of 
quelling  the  rebellion  and  restoring  the  authority  of  the  consti- 
tution.2 

The  inauguration  took  place  as  usual  in  front  of  the  Capitol, 
and  in  the  presence  of  an  immense  multitude  of  spectators.  A 
large  military  force  was  in  attendance  under  the  immediate 
command  of  Lieut.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott,  but  nothing  occurred 


1  Hon.  Henry  Wilson,  from  his  seat  in  the  senate  on  the  2ist  of  February,  said  : 
"  Conspiracies  are  everywhere  to  break  the  unity  of  the  republic  j  to  destroy  the 
grandest  fabric  of  free  government  the  human  understanding  ever  conceived,  or  the 
hand  of  man  ever  reared.  States  are  rushing  madly  from,  their  spheres  in  the  con- 
stellation of  the  union,  raising  the  banner  of  revolt,  defying  the  federal  authority, 
arming  men,  planting  frowning  batteries,  arming  fortresses,  dishonoring  the  national 
fag,  clutching  the  public  property,  arms  and  moneys,  and  inaugurating  the  reign  of 
disloyal  factions.  This  conspiracy  against  the  unity  of  the  Republic,  which  in  its 
developement  startles  and  amazes  the  world  by  its  extent  and  power,  is  not  the  work 
of  a  day  ;  it  is  the  labor  of  a  generation." 

a  Raymond's  History  of  the  Administration  of  President  Lincoln. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  307 

to  interrupt  the  harmony  of  the  occasion.     Before  taking  ths 
office  Mr.  Lincoln  delivered  his  inaugural  address. 

The  day  of  the  inauguration  was  ushered  in  by  a  most  exciting 
session  of  the  U.  S.  senate,  that  body  sitting  for  twelve  hours  until 
7  o'clock  in  the  morning.  As  the  hands  of  the  clock  pointed  to 
midnight,  and  Sunday  gave  way  to  Monday,  the  4th  of  March, 
the  senate  chamber  presented  a  curious  and  animated  appear- 
ance. The  galleries  were  crowded  to  repletion,  the  lady's 
gallery,  from  the  gay  dresses  of  the  fair  ones  there  congregated, 
resembled  some  gorgeous  parterre  of  flowers  ;  and  the  gentle- 
men's gallery  seemed  one  dense  black  mass  of  surging  humanity 
clambering  over  each  other's  backs  to  get  a  good  look  at  the 
proceedings.  As  the  morning  advanced  the  galleries  and  floor 
became  gradually  cleared. 

The  morning  broke  clear  and  beautiful,  and  though  at  one 
time  a  few  rain  drops  fell,  the  day  proved  just  calm  and  cloudy 
enough  to  prevent  the  unusual  heat  of  the  past  few  days,  and  the 
whirlwind  of  dust  that  would  otherwise  have  been  unpleasant. 

The  public  buildings,  schools,  places  of  business,  etc.,  were 
closed.  The  stars  and  stripes  floated  from  the  City  Hall,  Capi- 
tol, and  all  the  public  buildings ;  while  not  a  few  of  the  citizens 
flung  out  flags  from  their  houses  or  across  the  principal  avenues. 

Previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  procession  the  senate  chamber 
did  not  present  a  very  animated  appearance.  The  many  ladies 
waiting  to  seethe  display,  did  not  arrive  until  late,  and  the  officers, 
whose  gay  uniforms  and  flashing  epaulettes  relieve  so  well  the 
sombreness  of  the  national  black,  were  with  the  presidential 
cortege.  At  five  minutes  to  twelve  Vice  President  Brecken- 
ridge,  who  was  soon  after  commissioned  a  major  general  in  the 
rebel  army,  and  Senator  Foote  entered  the  senate  chamber, 
escorting  the  Vice  President  elect,  Hon.  Hannibal  Hamlin, 
whom  they  conducted  to  a  seat  immediately  to  the  left  of  the 
chair  of  the  president  of  the  senate. 

As  the  hands  of  the  clock  pointed  to  the  hour  of  twelve  the 
hammer  fell,  and  the  2d  session  of  the  36th  congress  came  to 
an  end. 

Vice  President  Breckenridgebade  the  senate  farewell,  and  then 
administered  the  oath  of  office  to  Vice  President  Hamlin,  and 
announcing  the  senate  adjourned  without  day,  left  the  chair,  to 


308  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

which  he  immediately  conducted  Vice  President  Hamlin.  At 
this  juncture  the  members  and  members  elect  of  the  house  of 
representatives  entered  the  senate  chamber  rilling  every  availa- 
ble place  to  the  left  of  the  vice  president.  The  foreign  diplo- 
matic corps,  in  full  dress,  also  at  the  same  moment  occupied  seats 
to  the  right  of  the  chair.  It  was  subject  of  general  remark  that 
the  foreign  corps  were  never  so  fully  represented  as  on  this  oc- 
casion. The  scene  in  the  senate,  while  waiting  the  arrival  of 
the  presidential  party,  seemed  to  realize  the  "  lying  down  of 
the  lamb  and  the  lion  together."  The  attendance  of  senators  was 
unusually  full.  At  fifteen  minutes  to  one,  the  judges  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  the  United  States  of  America  were  announced 
by  the  doorkeeper  of  the  senate.  On  their  entrance  all  on  the 
floor  arose  and  the  venerable  judges,  headed  by  Chief  Justice 
Taney,  moved  slowly  to  the  seats  assigned  them  immediately  to 
the  right  of  the  vice  president,  each  exchanging  salutes  with  that 
officer  in  passing  the  chair.  At  ten  minutes  past  one,  there  was 
an  unusual  stir,  and  the  rumor  spread  like  wildfire  that  the  presi- 
dent elect  was  in  the  building.  At  fifteen  minutes  past  one 
the  marshal  in  chief,  Major  B.  B.  French,  entered  the  cham- 
ber ushering  in  the  president  and  the  president  elect.  They 
had  entered  together  from  the  street  through  a  private  covered 
passage  way  on  the  north  side  of  the  Capitol.  The  line  of  pro- 
cession was  then  formed  of  the  persons  in  the  senate  chamber 
and  proceeded  to  the  platform  ;  when,  everything  being  in 
readiness,  Senator  Baker  of  Oregon  came  forward  and  said  : 

"Fellow  Citizens,  I  introduce  to  you  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
president  elect  of  the  United  States  of  America." 

Whereupon,  Mr.  Lincoln  arose,  walked  deliberately  and 
composedly  to  the  table,  and  bent  low  in  honor  of  the  repeated 
and  enthusiastic  cheering  of  the  countless  host  before  him. 
Having  put  on  his  spectacles,  he  arranged  his  manuscript  on  the 
small  table,  keeping  the  paper  thereon  by  the  aid  of  his  cane, 
and  commenced  in  a  clear,  ringing  voice  that  was  easily  heard 
by  those  on  the  outer  limits  of  the  crowd,  to  read  his  first  ad- 
dress to  the  people  as  president  of  the  United  States. 

The  opening  sentence,  u  Fellow  citizens  of  the  United  States," 
was  the  s:gnal  for  a  prolonged  applause,  the  good  union  sentiment 
thereof  striking  a  tender  chord  in  the  popular  breast.  Again  when, 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  309 

after  defining  certain  actions  to  be  his  duty,  he  said,  "  and  I 
shall  perform  it,"  there  was  a  spontaneous  and  uproarious  mani- 
festation of  approval  which  continued  some  moments.  Every 
sentence  which  indicated  firmness  in  the  presidential  chair,  and 
every  statement  of  a  conciliatory  nature  was  cheered  to  the  echo  ; 
while  his  appeal  to  his  "  dissatisfied  fellow-countrymen  "  de- 
siring them  to  reflect  calmly,  and  not  hurry  into  false  steps,  was 
welcomed  by  one  and  all,  most  heartily  and  cordially.  "  We 
are  not  enemies,"  he  said,  "  but  friends.  We  must  not  be 
enemies.  Though  passion  may  have  strained,  it  must  not  break 
our  bonds  of  affection. 

"The  mystic  cord  of  memory,  stretching  from  every  battle- 
field and  patriot  grave  to  every  living  heart  and  hearthstone  all 
over  this  broad  land,  will  yet  swell  the  chorus  of  the  union, 
when  again  touched,  as  they  surely  will  be,  by  the  better  angels 
of  our  nature." 

These  closing  words  dissolved  many  of  the  audience  in  tears, 
and  at  this  point,  alone,  did  the  melodious  voice  of  the  president 
elect  falter. 

After  the  delivery  of  the  address,  Judge  Taney  stood  up,  and 
all  removed  their  hats  while  he  administered  the  oath  to  Mr. 
Lincoln.  Speaking  in  a  low  tone  the  form  of  the  oath,  he 
signified  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  that  he  should  repeat  the  words,  and 
in  a  firm  but  modest  voice  the  president  took  the  oath  as  pre- 
scribed by  the  law  while  the  people  who  waited  until  they  saw 
the  final  bow,  tossed  their  hats,  wiped  their  eyes,  cheered  at 
the  top  of  their  voices  and  hurraed  themselves  hoarse. 

Judge  Taney  was  the  first  person  who  shook  hands  with  Mr. 
Lincoln,  and  was  followed  by  Mr,  Buchanan,  and  Messrs.  Chase, 
Douglass,  and  others.  A  southern  gentleman  seized  him  by  the 
hand  and  said  :  "  God  bless  you  my  dear  sir  ;  you  will  save  us." 
Mr.  Lincoln  replied  :  "  I  am  glad  that  what  I  have  said  causes 
pleasure  to  southerners,  because  I  then  know  they  are  pleased 
with  what  is  right." 

After  delaying  a  little  upon  the  platform  Mr.  Lincoln  and 
Mr.  Buchanan,  arm  in  arm  and  followed  by  a  few  privileged 
persons,  proceeded  at  a  measured  pace  to  the  senate  chamber, 
and  thence  to  the  president's  room,  while  the  band  played  Hail 
Columbia,  Yankee  doodle,  and  the  Star  Spangled  Banner. 


310  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

In  a  short  time  the  procession  was  reformed,  and  the  president 
and  expresident  were  conducted  in  state  to  the  White  House. 

After  a  few  moments  delay,  the  president  gave  audience  to 
the  diplomatic  corps  who,  with  great  pomp  and  ceremony,  were 
the  first  to  pay  their  respects  and  congratulate  him.  Then  the 
doors  were  opened,  and  the  people  like  a  flood  tide  rushed  in 
upon  him.  The  marshals  forming  a  double  line  of  guards,  kept 
all  rudeness  at  a  distance,  and  everything  went  off  with  great 
success  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 

The  thirty-four  little  girls  who  personated  the  several  states 
of  the  union,  and  rode  in  a  gaily  decorated  car  in  the  procession, 
halted  at  the  door  while  they  sang  Hail  Columbia,  after  which 
they  were  received  by  the  president,  who  gave  to  each  and  all 
of  them  a  hearty  and  good  natured  salute, 

After  Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  well  shaken,  the  doors  were 
closed,  and  the  marshals  of  the  day  were  personally  introduced 
to  him.  He  thanked  them  for  their  admirable  arrangements, 
and  congratulated  them  upon  the  successful  termination  of  their 
duties.  They  then  retired,  and  the  president  repaired  to  his 
private  apartment  somewhat  overcome  by  the  fatigue  and  ex- 
citement he  had  undergone. 

In  the  evening  there  was  an  inauguration  ball,  which  was  a 
decided  success.  Dancing  commenced  at  JO  o'clock,  and  at 
a  quarter  before  eleven  the  presidential  party  came  in.  The 
band  struck  up  Hail  Columbia,  and  the  party  marched  from 
one  end  of  the  hall  to  the  other.  After  a  brief  promenade,  the 
president  with  Mrs.  Hamlin  took  stations  at  the  upper  end  of 
the  room,  when  a  large  number  of  persons  availed  themselves 
of  the  opportunity  to  be  presented.  At  half-past  eleven  the 
president  and  suite  went  into  the  supper  room,  and  so  ended  the 
first  day  of  President  Lincoln's  administration.1 


1  This  account  of  the  inauguration  of  President  Lincoln  is  condensed  from  the  re- 
port of  a  newspaper  correspondent,  who  was  an  eye-witness  of  the  scenes  described. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  311 

OUR  FLAG  AT  SUMTER. 
1861-1865. 

When  the  secession  excitment  in  South  Carolina,  and  par- 
ticularly in  Charleston,  had  reached  its  height,  Major  Robert 
Anderson,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  found  in  command  of  the 
United  States  forces  and  defences  of  Charleston  harbor,  stationed 
at  Fort  Moultrie  with  a  force  of  nine  officers,1  fifty  artillerymen, 
fifteen  musicicans  and  thirty  laborers,  in  all  one  hundred  and 
four  men,  of  whom  only  sixty -three  were  combatants.  A  na- 
tive of  one  slave  state,  and  connected  by  marriage  with  another 
(Georgia),  it  was  hoped  on  the  one  side  he  would  betray  his  trust, 
and  feared  on  the  other,  that  he  would  resign  it.  Thoughtless 
of  the  world,  and  regardless  of  the  ties  of  family  and  friendship, 
he  kept  a  single  eye  upon  his  present  duty  and  won  the  undying 
honor  which  ever  falls  to  faith  and  firmness  shown  on  great  oc- 
casions.2 With  his  little  band,  all  of  whom  proved  true,  he  de- 
termined to  defend  his  flag  and  maintain  his  post.  He  com- 
menced at  once  his  precautions  against  surprise  or  treachery, 
and  after  December  u,  1860,  no  one  was  admitted  to  his  works 
unless  he  was  known  to  some  officer  of  the  garrison.  Events 
soon  justified  his  precautions.  On  the  iQth  of  Dec.,  Mr.  Por- 
cher  Miles  stated,  in  the  South  Carolina  state  convention,  that 
but  sixty  or  eighty  men  garrisoned  Fort  Moultrie,  and  Sumter 
was  an  empty  fortress  that  could  be  seized  at  any  time.  The 
next  day  (the  2Oth)  the  ordinance  of  secession  passed  and  Major 
Anderson  saw  from  his  ramparts  the  equipping  and  drilling  of 
troops  threatening  him,  and  felt  the  danger  and  delicacy  of  his 
position.  On  the  24th  of  Dec.,  he  wrote  a  private  letter  in 
which  he  set  forth  the  precarious  situation  in  which  he  was 
placed  ;  with  a  garrison  of  only  sixty  effective  men  in  an  indiffe- 
rent work,  the  walls  of  which  were  only  fourteen  feet  high,  and 
within  one  hundred  yards  of  sand  hills  which  commanded  the 


1  These  officers  were,  Capt.  Abner  Doubleday,  Capt.  J.  G.  Foster,  Capt.  T  Sey- 
mour, ist.  Lieut.  G.  W.  Snyder,  ist.  Lieut.  Jeff.  C.  Davis,  ist.  Lieut.  T.  Talbot,  ad. 
Lieut.  R.  K.  Meade  and  Assistant  Surgeon  S.  W.  Crawford.  Soon  after  the  fall  of 
Sumter  Lieut.  Meade,  joined  the  insurgents.  Most  of  the  other  officers  attained  high 
rank  in  our  service.  Lieuts.  Snyder  and  Talbot  died  early  in  the  war. 

8  Harper's  History  of  the  Great  Rebellion  vol.  I. 


312  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

position,  and  with  numerous  houses  within  pistol  shot,  he  confessed, 
"if  attacked  by  anyone  but  a  simpleton,  there  was  scarce  a  possi- 
bility of  his  being  able  to  hold  out  long  enough  for  friends  to  come 
to  his  succor."  General  Scott  thought  the  fort  could  be  taken 
by  five  hundred  men  in  twenty-four  hours. 

Major  Anderson's  orders  directed  him  to  carefully  avoid  any  act 
which  would  needlessly  provoke  aggression,  and  without  necessity 
not  to  take  up  any  position  which  could  be  construed  into  a  hostile 
attitude,  but  he  was  also  directed  to  bold  possession  of  the  forts^ 
and  if  attacked  to  defend  them  to  the  last  extremity.  If  the 
smallness  of  his  force  did  not  permit  his  occupying  more  than 
one  of  the  three  forts,  he  was  authorized  in  case  of  an  attack, 
to  put  his  command  into  either  which  he  deemed  most  proper 
to  increase  his  power  of  resistance,  and  also  to  take  similar  mea- 
sures, whenever  he  had  tangible  evidence  of  a  design  to  proceed 
to  a  hostile  act. 

Christmas  day  dawned  upon  Major  Anderson  under  these 
circumstances,  and  bound  by  these  instructions.  He  accepted 
an  invitation  to  dinner  in  Charleston.  Returning  to  his  post, 
under  cover  of  the  night  and  the  prevailing  hilarity,  he  removed 
his  force  from  Fort  Moultrie  to  Fort  Sumter,  and  placed  his 
little  band  where  he  could  assert  and  maintain  for  a  time  the 
authority  of  the  government,  and  uphold  its  flag.  Major  An- 
derson had  kept  his  secret  well,  and  did  his  work  thoroughly. 
During  the  day  the  wives  and  children  of  the  troops  were  sent 
away,  on  the  plea  that  an  attack  might  be  made  on  Fort  Moul- 
trie. Three  small  schooners  were  hired,  and  the  few  inhabit- 
ants of  Sullivan's  island  saw  them  loaded,  as  they  thought,  with 
beds,  furniture  and  baggage.  About  nine  in  the  evening  the 
men  were  ordered  to  hold  themselves  in  marching  order,  with 
knapsacks  packed.  No  one  seemed  to  know  the  reason  of  the 
movement,  and  probably  their  destination  was  only  confided  by 
Major  Anderson  to  his  second  in  command.  The  little  garri- 
son was  paraded,  inspected,  and  then  embarked  in  boats  and 
taken  to  Fort  Sumter,  the  schooners  carrying  the  provisions, 
garrison  furniture  and  munitions  of  war.  What  could  not  be 
removed  was  destroyed.  Not  a  pound  of  powder  or  a  cartridge 
was  left  in  the  magazine.  The  small  arms  and  military  supplies 
of  every  kind  were  removed,  guns  spiked,  and  their  carriages 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES. 


313 


burned.  The  unfinished  additions  and  alterations  of  the  work 
were  destroyed.  The  flag  staff  was  cut  down,  that  no  banner 
with  strange  device  should  occupy  the  place  of  the  stars  and 
stripes  ;  in  fact  nothing  was  left  unharmed  except  the  heavy 
round  shot,  which  were  temporarily  useless,  by  the  dismounting 
and  spiking  of  all  the  guns. 

The  flag  brought  away  from  Moultrie  was  raised  again  over 
Sumter  at  noon,  Dec.  26th,  and  its  raising  was  rendered  impres- 
sive by  the  following  ceremony.  A 
little  before  noon  Major  Anderson  as- 
sembled together  around  the  flag  staff 
the  whole  of  his  little  force,  with  the 
workmen  employed  on  the  fort.  The 
national  ensign  was  attached  to  the  cord, 
and  Major  Anderson  holding  the  lines 
in  his  hand,  reverently  knelt  down. 
The  officers  and  men  clustered  around, 
many  of  them  on  their  knees,  all 
deeply  impressed  with  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion.  The  chaplain  stepped 
forth  and  made  an  earnest  prayer,  a 
prayer  says  one  who  was  present, 
which  was  "  such  an  appeal  for  sup- 
port, encouragement  and  mercy  as  one  would  make  who  felt 
that  man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity."  As  the  earnest,  so- 
lemn words  of  the  speaker  ceased  the  men  answered  amen,  and 
Major  Anderson  run  the  star  spangled  banner  up  to  the  head  of 
the  staff,  the  band  at  the  same  moment  saluting  it  with  our  na- 
tional air,  Hail  Columbia,  while  loud  and  exultant  cheers — 
cheers  of  exultation  and  defiance — were  given  again  and. again 
by  the  officers,  soldiers  and  workmen.  As  these  cheers  went 
up,  a  boat  which  was  sent  down  from  the  city  to  carry  back  an 
exact  report  of  the  condition  of  the  fortress,  saw  the  national 
standard  rise,  heard  the  loyal  shouts,  and  knew  that  the  wicked 
hopes  of  the  secessionists  of  a  quiet  possession  of  Fort  Sumter 
were  baffled. 

A  ballad  of  the  times  written  by  Mrs.  Dorr1  graphically  de- 


The  raising  of  the  Flag  at 
Fort    Sumter. 


1  Published  in  the  New  York  Evening  Post. 

40 


314  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

scribes  these  events.  An  old  man  is  supposed  to  be  the  narra- 
tor of  them  to  his  grandchildren,  Dec.  26,  1910,  half  a  century 
after  their  occurence.  He  says  : 

"  We  were  stationed  at  Fort  Moultrie,  but  about  a  mile  away, 
The  battlements  of  Sumter  stood  proudly  in  the  bay ; 
'Twas  by  far  the  best  position,  as  he  could  not  help  but  know 
Our  gallant  Major  Anderson  just  fifty  years  ago. 

"  Yes  'twas  just  after  Christmas,  fifty  years  ago  to-night 

The  sky  was  calm  and  cloudless,  the  moon  was  large  and  bright ; 

At  six  o'clock  the  drums  beat  to  call  us  to  parade 

And  not  a  man  suspected  the  plan  that  had  been  laid. 

"  But  the  first  thing  a  soldier  learns  is  that  he  must  obey, 
And  that  when  an  order's  given  he  has  not  a  word  to  say ; 
So  when  told  to  man  the  boats,  not  a  question  did  we  ask, 
But  silently,  yet  eagerly,  began  our  hurried  task. 

"  We  did  a  deal  of  work  that  night,  though  our  numbers  were  but  few, 
We  had  all  our  stores  to  carry,  and  our  ammunition  too ; 
And  the  guard  ship  —  'twas  the  Nina  — l  set  to  watch  us  in  the  bay, 
Never  dreamed  what  we  were  doing,  though  'twas  almost  light  as  day.  z 

"  We  spiked  the  guns  we  left  behind,  and  cut  the  flagstaff  down  — 
From  its  top  should  float  no  color,  if  it  might  not  hold  our  own  — 
Then  we  sailed  away  for  Sumter,  as  fast  as  we  could  go, 
With  our  good  Major  Anderson,  jusf  fifty  years  ago. 

"  I  never  can  forget  boys,  how  the  next  day  at  noon, 
The  drums  beat,  and  the  band  played  a  stirring  martial  tune  ; 
And  silently  we  gathered  round  the  flagstaff  strong  and  high, 
Forever  pointing  upward  to  God's  temple  in  the  sky. 

"Our  noble  Major  Anderson  was  good  as  he  was  brave, 

And  he  knew  without  His  blessing  no  banner  long  could  wave, 

So  he  knelt,  with  head  uncovered,  while  the  chaplain  read  the  prayer, 

And  as  the  last  amen  was  said,  the  flag  rose  high  in  air. 


1  A  small  rebel  steamer 

2"  Just  at  the  close  of  the  evening  twilight,  when  the  almost  full  orbed  moon  was 
shining  brightly  in  the  southern  sky,  the  greater  portion  of  the  little  garrison  at  Fort 
Moultrie  embarked  for  Fort  Sumter."  —  Lossing's  History  Civil  War,  vol.  I . 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  315 

"  Then  our  loud  huzzas  rung  out,  far  and  widely  o'er  the  sea  ! 
We  shouted  for  the  stars  and  stripes,  the  standard  of  the  free  ! 
Every  eye  was  fixed  upon  it,  every  heart  beat  warm  and  fast, 
As  with  eager  lips  we  promised  to  defend  it  to  the  last ! 

'Twas  a  sight  to  be  remembered  boys  —  the  chaplain  with  his  book, 
Our  leader  humbly  kneeling,  with  his  calm  undaunted  look  ; 
And  the  officers  and  men,  crushing  tears  they  would  not  shed, 
And  the  blue  sea  all  around  us,  and  the  blue  sky  overhead !" 


The  occupation  of  Fort  Sumter  caused  great  excitement  in 
Charleston.  The  rebels  saw  themselves  at  once  baffled  and 
defied.  The  effect  of  Major  Anderson's  change  of  position  was 
even  greater  throughout  the  country  at  large.  Men  suddenly 
saw  what  they  had  previously  o'nly  imagined.  Major  Ander- 
son's movement  placed  the  Charlestonians  in  the  attitude  of 
open  enemies  with  whom  intercourse  was  thenceforth  to  be  upon 
a  war  footing.  So  the  cry  of  wrath  which  went  up  from  the 
rebel  city  was  answered  by  a  voice  of  admiration,  encourage- 
ment, and  above  all  of  confidence  from  almost  the  entire  country 
outside  of  South  Carolina.1  Among  the  very  people  at  the 
north  upon  whose  sympathy  the  seceders  had  most  counted, 
even  in  some  of  the  very  states  of  the  south  whose  fortunes 
South  Carolina  believed,  with  reason,  to  be  indissolubly  linked 
with  hers,  the  occupation  of  Fort  Sumter  was  regarded  as  the 
most  prudent  and  dignified  course  which  could  have  been  taken. 
Major  Anderson's  name  and  his  praises  were  upon  all  lips 
which  did  not  mutter  treason.  Five  days  after  the  old  flag 
was  raised  at  Sumter  the  Nebraska  legislature,  two  thousand 
miles  away  to  the  west,  telegraphed  to  Anderson  "  A  Happy 
New  Tear." 

The  pace  of  treason,  rapid  before,  was  quickened  by  this 
movement.  On  the  2yth,  troops  were  ordered  out  in  Charles- 
ton, and  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  Capt.  Napoleon  Coste, 
of  the  revenue  cutter  William  Aiken,  hauled  down  with  his 
own  hands  the  stars  and  stripes  he  had  sworn  to  defend,  and 
substituted  for  them  the  Palmetto  standard,  thus  giving  the  rebelh 
the  first  vessel  of  a  navy.  While  he  thus  forfeited  his  oats 


1  Harper"1*  Pictorial  History  of  the  Great  Rebellion. 


316  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

of  allegiance  to  the  general  government,  his  officers,  true  to 
their  oaths,  reported  themselves  at  Washington.  The  palmetto 
state  flag  within  the  next  three  days  was  hoisted  over  all  the 
national  buildings  in  Charleston,  and  upon  the  United  States 
Arsenal,  Fort  Moultrie,  and  Castle  Pinckney,  all  of  which  were  oc- 
cupied by  the  troops  of  the  sovereign  state  of  South  Carolina.  Pre- 
sident Buchanan,  replying  to  the  South  Carolina  commissioner's 
complaint  of  Major  Anderson's  action,  said  :  "Major  Anderson 
had  acted  on  his  own  responsibility,  and  without  authority,"  and 
that  his  "  first  promptings  were  to  command  him  to  return  to 
his  former  position,"  but  before  any  step  could  possibly  be 
taken  in  that  direction  he  received  information  that  the  palmetto 
flag  floated  out  to  the  breeze  at  Castle  Pinckney,  and  that  a 
large  military  force  garrisoned, Fort  Moultrie.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances it  was  urged  upon  him  to  withdraw  the  United  States 
troops  from  Charleston  harbor.  This  he  said  he  could  not  and 
would  not  do,  and  such  an  idea  had  never  been  thought  of  by 
him  in  any  possible  contingency.  He  then  added  :  "  I  have, 
while  writing,  been  informed  by  telegraph  that  the  arsenal  has 
been  taken  by  force  of  arms,  with  property  in  it  belonging  to 
the  United  States  worth  half  a  million  of  dollars.  After  this  in- 
formation, it  is  my  duty  to  defend  Fort  Sumter  as  a  portion  of 
the  public  property  of  the  United  States  from  whatever  quarter 
the  attack  should  come." 

On  the  8th  of  January,  1861,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Adrian  of 
New  Jersey,  the  United  States  house  of  representatives  passed 
a  resolution  "  fully  approving  of  the  bold  and  patriotic  act  of 
Major  Anderson  in  withdrawing  from  Fort  Moultrie  to  Sumter, 
and  the  determination  of  the  president  to  maintain  that  fearless 
officer  in  his  present  position."  The  resolution  further  "  pledged 
the  support  of  the  house  to  the  president  in  all  constitutional 
measures  to  enforce  the  laws  and  preserve  the  union." 

The  Charleston  Mercury  about  the  same  date,  in  an  article  headed 
"  Fort  Sumter  the  Bastion  of  the  Federal  Union,"  concluded 
with  these  words:  "Border  southern  states  will  never  join  us 
until  we  have  indicated  our  power  to  free  ourselves.  Until  we 
have  proven  that  a  garrison  of  seventy  men  cannot  hold  the  por- 
tal of  our  commerce.  The  fate  of  the  confederacy  hangs  by 
the  ensign  halliards  of  Fort  Sumter." 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  317 

If  the  garrison  of  Fort  Sumter  was  to  be  retained  and  sus- 
tained it  must  needs  be  reenforced  and  provisioned.     A  large 
^i  steamship,  The  Star  of  the 

West,  was  therefore  char- 
tered, and  sailed  from  New 
York  on  the  5th  of  Jan.,  with 
a  supply  of  commissary  stores 
and  ammunition,  and  two 
Steamer  Star  of  the  West.  hundred  and  fifty  artillery- 

men and  marines  toreenforce 

the  garrison.  She  was  cleared  for  New  Orleans  and  Havana, 
and  did  not  take  the  troops  on  board  until  down  the  bay.  The 
Charleston  people,  however,  were  fully  aware  of  the  project  and 
prepared  to  receive  her.  She  arrived  off  Charleston  bar  on 
the  night  of  the  gth  of  January,  and  lay  to  until  morning, 
the  guiding  marks  to  the  bar  having  been  removed  and  the  light 
extinguished.  We  will  let  Capt.  Me  Gowan  tell  the  story  of 
his  reception,  as  reported  by  him  to  the  owner  of  his  vessel. 

"  Steamship  Star  of  the  West, 

New  York,  Saturday,  Jan.  12,  1861. 

"  M.  O.  ROBERTS,  ESQJ  SIR, —  After  leaving  the  wharf  on 
the  5th  inst.,  at  5  o'clock  p.  M.,  we  proceeded  down  the  bay, 
where  we  hove  to,  and  took  on  board  four  officers  and  two  hun- 
dred soldiers,  with  their  arms,  ammunition,  etc.,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded to  sea,  crossing  the  bar  at  Sandy  Hook  at  9  p.  M. 
Nothing  unusual  took  place  during  the  passage,  which  was  a 
pleasant  one  for  this  season  of  the  year. 

"  We  arrived  at  Charleston  bar  at  1.30  A.  M.,  on  the  Qth 
inst.,  but  could  find  no  guiding  marks  for  the  bar,  as  the  lights 
were  all  out.  We  proceeded  with  caution,  running  very  slow 
and  sounding,  until  about  4  A.  M.,  being  then  in  four  and  a  half 
fathoms  water,  when  we  discovered  a  light  through  the  haze 
which  at  that  time  covered  the  horizon.  Concluding  that  the 
lights  were  on  Fort  Sumter,  after  getting  the  bearings  of  it  we 
steered  to  the  S.  W.  for  the  main  ship  channel,  where  we  hove 
to,  to  await  daylight,  our  lights  having  all  been  put  out  since 
twelve  o'clock  to  avoid  being  seen. 

"  As  the  day  began  to  break,  we   discovered  a  steamer  just 


318  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

inshore  of  us,  which,  as  soon  as  she  saw  us,  burned  one  blue 
light  and  two  red  lights  as  signals,  and  shortly  after  steamed  over 
the  bar  and  into  the  ship  channel.  The  soldiers  were  now  all 
put  below,  and  no  one  allowed  on  deck  except  our  own  crew, 
As  soon  as  there  was  light  enough  to  see,  we  crossed  the  bar 
and  proceeded  on  up  the  channel  (the  outer-bar  buoy  having 
been  taken  away),  the  steamer  ahead  of  us  sending  off  rockets, 
and  burning  lights  until  after  broad  daylight,  continuing  on  her 
course  up  nearly  two  miles  ahead  of  us.  When  we  arrived  about 
two  miles  from  Fort  Moultrie,  Fort  Sumter  being  about  the 
same  distance,  a  masked  battery  on  Morris's  sland,  where  there 
was  a  red  Palmetto  flag  flying,  opened  fire  upon  us  —  distance 
about  five-eighths  of  a  mile.  We  bad  the  American  flag  flying  at 
our  flag-staff  at  the  time,  and  soon  after  the  first  shot  hoisted  a  large 
American  ensign  at  the  fore  :x  We  continued  on  under  the  fire 
of  the  battery  for  over  ten  minutes,  several  of  the  shots  going 
clear  over  us.  One  shot  just  passed  clear  of  the  pilot-house, 
another  passed  between  the  smoke-stack  and  walking-beams  of 
the  engine,  another  struck  the  ship  just  abaft  the  fore-rigging, 
and  stove  in  the  planking,  while  another  came  within  an  ace  of 
carrying  away  the  rudder.  At  the  same  time  there  was  a  move- 
ment of  two  steamers  from  near  Fort  Moultrie,  one  of  them 
towing  a  schooner  (I  presume  an  armed  schooner),  with  the  in- 
tention of  cutting  us  off.  Our  position  now  became  rather 
critical,  as  we  had  to  approach  Fort  Moultrie  to  within  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  before  we  could  keep  away  for  Fort  Sumter. 
A  steamer  approaching  us  with  an  armed  schooner  in  tow,  and 
the  battery  on  the  island  firing  at  us  all  the  time,  and  having  no 
cannon  to  defend  ourselves  from  the  attack  of  the  vessels,  we 
concluded  that,  to  avoid  certain  capture  or  destruction,  we  would 
endeavor  to  get  to  sea.  Consequently  we  wore  round  and 
steered  down  the  channel,  the  battery  firing  upon  us  until  the 
shot  fell  short.  As  it  was  now  strong  ebb  tide,  and  the  water 
having  fallen  some  three  feet,  we  proceeded  with  caution,  and 
crossed  the  bar  safely  at  8.50  A.  M.,  and  continued  on  our  course 
for  this  port,  where  we  arrived  this  morning,  after  a  boisterous 


1  This  flag  on  the  occasion  of  some  popular  demonstration  in  1866,  was  displayed 
from  the  residence  of  Marshal  O.  Roberts,  the  owner  of  the  Star  of  the  West,  at 
the  corner  of  Eighteenth  street  and  Fifth  avenue,  New  York. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  319 

passage.     A  steamer  from   Charleston   followed  us  for  about 
three  hours,  watching  our  movements. 

u  In  justice  to  the  officers  and  crew  of  each  department  of 
the  ship,  I  must  add  that  their  behavior  while  under  the  fire  of 
the  battery  reflected  great  credit  on  them. 

"  Mr.  Brewer,  the  New  York  pilot,  was  of  very  great  assist- 
ance to  me  in  helping  to  pilot  the  ship  over  Charleston  bar, 
and  up  and  down  the  channel. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servantt " 

"  JOHN  M'GowAN, 

Captain." 

Such  is  the  plain  official  narrative  of  the  first  attempt  to  re- 
lieve Fort  Sumter,  and  of  the  first  hostile  shot  ever  directed  by 
fratricidal  hands  against  the  majesty  of  the  union  represented  by 
our  flag.  The  Charleston  Courier  stated  that  in  all,  only  seven- 
teen shots  were  fired  at  the  steamer,  two  of  which  took  effect. 
Major  Anderson,  it  is  said,  ordered  the  ports  fronting  Fort 
Moultrie  and  Morris  island  to  be  opened  and  the  guns  unlim- 
bered,  and  one  of  his  lieutenants  asked  "to  give  Jem  just  one 
shot."  u  Be  patient,"  replied  the  major  as  he  stood  glass  in  hand 
intently  watching  the  approaching  steamer.  How  long  they 
were  to  be  patient  will  never  be  known,  for  at  what  appeared 
the  critical  moment  the  Star  of  the  West  suddenly  put  her  helm 
to  port,  turned  her  head  seaward  and  proceeded  out  over  the  bar. 

Communication  with  Charleston  having  been  cut  off,  Ander- 
son knew  nothing  of  the  intention  of  sending  him  supplies  and 
reenforcements,  and  consequently  did  not  know  of  the  special 
claims  the  steamer  had  for  his  protection.  Her  putting  back 
relieved  him  from  all  anxiety  for  her  safety,  but  he  immediately 
addressed  the  following  note  to  the  governor  of  the  state. 

"  To  his  Excellency  the  Governor  of  South  Carolina  : 
"Sin:  Two  of  your  batteries  fired  this  morning  on  an  un- 
armed vessel  bearing  the  flag  of  my  government.  As  I  have  not 
been  notified  that  war  has  been  declared  by  South  Carolina 
against  the  United  States,  I  cannct  but  think  this  a  hostile  act 
committed  without  your  sanction  or  authority.  Under  that 
hope  I  refrain  from  opening  a  fire  on  your  batteries.  I  have 
the  honor,  therefore,  respectfully  to  ask  whether  the  above- 


320  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

mentioned  act  —  one  which  I  believe  is  without  parallel  in  the 
history  of  our  country  or  any  other  civilized  government  —  was 
committed  in  obedience  to  your  instructions,  and  notify  you,  if 
it  is  not  disclaimed,  that  I  regard  it  as  an  act  of  war,  and  I  shall 
not,  after  reasonable  time  for  the  return  of  my  messenger,  permit 
any  vessel  to  pass  within  the  range  of  the  guns  of  my  fort.  In 
order  to  save,  as  far  as  it  is  in  my  power,  the  shedding  of  blood, 
I  beg  you  will  take  due  notification  of  my  decision  for  the  good  of 
all  concerned,  hoping,  however,  your  answer  may  justify  a 
farther  continuance  of  forbearance  on  my  part. 
"1  remain,  respectfully, 

"  ROBERT  ANDERSON.  " 


In  his  reply,  Governor  Pickens,  after  stating  the  position  of 
South  Carolina  toward  the  United  States,  said :  u  Any  attempt 
to  send  United  States  troops  into  Charleston  harbor,  to  reenforce 
the  forts,  would  be  regarded  as  an  act  of  hostility  :"  and,  in 
conclusion,  added :  "  That  any  attempt  to  reenforce  the  troops  at 
Fort  Sumter,  or  to  retake  and  resume  possession  of  the  forts 
within  the  waters  of  South  Carolina,  which  Major  Anderson 
abandoned,  after  spiking  the  cannon  and  doing  other  damage, 
cannot  but  be  regarded  by  the  authorities  of  the  state  as  indicative 
of  any  other  purpose  than  the  coercion  of  the  state  by  the  armed 
force  of  the  government ;  special  agents,  therefore,  have  been 
off  the  bar  to  warn  approaching  vessels,  armed  and  unarmed, 
having  troops  to  reenforce  Fort  Sumter  aboard,  not  to  enter 
the  harbor.  Special  orders  have  been  given  the  commanders  at 
the  forts  not  to  fire  on  such  vessels  until  a  shot  across  their 
bows  should  warn  them  of  the  prohibition  of  the  state.  Under 
these  circumstances,  the  Star  of  the  West,  it  is  understood,  this 
morning  attempted  to  enter  the  harbor  with  troops,  after  having 
been  notified  she  could  not  enter,  and  consequently  she  was 
fired  into.  This  act  is  perfectly  justified  by  me. 

"In  regard  to  your  threat  about  vessels  in  the  harbor,  it  is 
only  necessary  for  me  to  say,  you  must  be  the  judge  of  your 
responsibility.  Your  position  in  the  harbor  has  been  tolerated  by 
the  authorities  of  the  state  ;  and  while  the  act  of  which  you 
complain  is  in  perfect  consistency  with  the  rights  and  duties  of 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  321 

the  state,  it  is  not  perceived  how  far  the  conduct  you  propose 
to  adopt  can  find  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  any  country,  or  be 
reconciled  with  any  other  purpose  than  that  of  your  government 
imposing  on  the  state  the  condition  of  a  conquered  province. 

"F.  W.  PICKENS." 


The  situation  was  grave  and  important,  and  Major  Anderson 
replied  to  the  governor's  letter  as  follows : 

u  To  his  Excellency  Governor  Pic  tens  : 

"  SIR, —  "  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  communication,  and  say  that,  under  the  circumstances,  I 
have  deemed  it  proper  to  refer  the  whole  matter  to  my  govern- 
ment, and  intend  deferring  the  course  I  indicated  in  my  note 
this  morning  until  the  arrival  from  Washington  of  such  in- 
structions as  I  may  receive. 

"  I  have  the  honor  also  to  express  the  hope  that  no  obstruc- 
tions will  be  placed  in  the  way,  and  that  you  will  do  me  the 
favor  of  giving  every  facility  for  the  departure  and  return  of  the 
bearer,  Lieut.  T.  Talbot,  who  is  directed  to  make  the  journey. 

"  ROBERT  ANDERSON." 

Having  the  consent  of  the  governor,  Lieut.  Talbot  was  sent 
with  dispatches,  and  the  whole  matter  laid  before  the  govern- 
ment at  Washington. 

After  the  return  of  the  Star  of  the  West  to  New  York  from 
her  fruitless  effort  to  relieve  Sumter,  another  expedition  was 
planned  by  Mr.  G.  V.  Fox,  afterwards  assistant  secretary  of  the 
navy,  which  he  explained  as  follows.1 

"  After  the  Star  of  the  West,  had  returned  from  her  voyage, 
I  called  upon  George  W.  Blunt,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  and  ex- 
pressed to  him  my  views  as  to  the  possibility  of  relieving  the 
garrison,  and  the  dishonor  which  would  be  justly  merited  by  the 
government,  unless  immediate  measures  were  taken  to  fulfill 
this  sacred  duty. 


1  This  statement  can  be  found  in  the   Rebellion  Record  and  in  Boynton's  Hittory(?) 
of  the  Navy  in  the  War. 

41 


322  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

"  I  explained  my  plan  to  Mr  Blunt  as  follows : 

"From  the  outer  edge  of  the  Charleston  bar,  in  a  straight 
line  to  Sumter,  through  the  Swash  channel,  the  distance  is  four 
miles,  with  no  shoal  spots  having  less  than  nine  feet  at  high- 
water.  The  batteries  on  Morris  and  Sullivan's  islands  are 
about  two  thousand  six  hundred  yards  apart,  and  between  these, 
troops  and  supplies  must  pass.  I  proposed  to  anchor  three 
small  men-of-war  off  the  entrance  to  the  Swash  channel,  as  a 
safe  base  of  operations  against  any  naval  attack  from  the  enemy. 

"The  soldiers  and  provisions  to  be  carried  to  the  Charleston 
bar  in  the  Collins  steamer  Baltic ;  all  the  provisions  and  muni- 
tions to  be  put  up  in  portable  packages,  easily  handled  by  one 
man.  The  Baltic  to  carry  three  hundred  extra  sailors,  and  a 
sufficient  number  of  armed  launches,  to  land  all  the  troops  at 
Fort  Sumter  in  one  night. 

"  Three  steam-tugs,  of  not  more  than  six  feet  draft  of  water, 
such  as  are  employed  for  towing  purposes,  were  to  form  part  of 
the  expedition,  to  be  used  for  carrying  in  the  troops  and  provi- 
sions, in  case  the  weather  should  be  too  rough  for  boats. 

"  With  the  exception  of  the  men-of-war  and  tugs,  the  whole 
expedition  was  to  be  complete  on  board  the  steamer  Baltic,  and 
its  success  depended  upon  the  possibility  of  running  past  batteries 
at  night,  which  were  distant  from  the  centre  of  the  channel 
one  thousand  three  hundred  yards.  I  depended  upon  the  bar- 
bette guns  of  Sumter  to  keep  the  channel  between  Morris  and 
Sullivan's  islands  clear  of  rebel  vessels  at  the  time  of  entering. 

u  We  then  discussed  the  plan  over  a  chart,  and  Mr  Blunt  com- 
municated it  to  Charles  H.  Marshall  and  Russell  Sturges ;  they 
approved  it,  and  Mr.  Marshall  agreed  to  furnish  and  provision 
the  vessels  without  exciting  suspicion. 

"  On  the  fourth  of  February  I  received  through  Mr.  Blunt 
a  telegram  from  Lieut.  General  Scott,  requesting  my  attendance 
at  Washington.  And  on  the  6th,  at  eleven  A.  M.,  met  at  the 
general's  office,  by  arrangement,  Lieutenant  Talbot,  who  had 
been  sent  from  Sumter  by  Major  Anderson.  In  the  general's 
presence,  we  discussed  the  question  of  relieving  Fort  Sumter. 
Lieutenant  Talbot's  plan  was  to  go  in  with  a  steamer,  protected 
by  a  vessel  on  each  side  loaded  with  hay.  I  objected  to  it, 
as  first,  a  steamer  could  not  carry  vessels  lashed  alongside 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  323 

in  rough  water ;  and  second,  in  running  up  the  channel,  she 
would  be  bows  on,  to  Fort  Moultrie,  and  presenting  a  large 
fixed  mark  without  protection  ahead,  would  certainly  be  dis- 
abled. 

"  Lieutenant  General  Scott  approved  my  plan,  and  introduced 
me  to  Mr.  Holt,  the  secretary  of  war,  to  whom  I  explained 
the  project,  and  offered  my  services  to  conduct  the  party  to  the 
fort.  Mr.  Holt  agreed  to  present  the  matter  to  President  Bu- 
chanan that  evening. 

"The  next  day,  the  eighth  of  February,  news  was  received  of 
the  election  of  Jefferson  Davis  by  the  Montgomery  convention. 
I  called  upon  General  Scott,  and  he  intimated  to  me  that  pro- 
bably no  effort  would  be  made  to  relieve  Fort  Sumter.  He 
seemed  much  disappointed  and  astonished ;  I  therefore  returned 
to  New  York  on  the  ninth  of  February." 

Thus  this  attempted  relief  of  the  beleagured  fortress  was  aban- 
doned and  the  devoted  garrison,  for  the  present,  left  to  its  own 
resources. 

Two  days  after  the  attack  upon  the  Star  of  the  West,  Governor 
Pickens  sent  the  secretary  of  state  and  secretary  of  war  of  the  sove- 
reign state  of  South  Carolina  to  Sumter,  to  make  a  formal  demand 
on  Major  Anderson  for  the  immediate  surrender  of  that  fort  to  the 
authorities  of  South  Carolina.  They  tried  every  art  to  persuade 
or  alarm  him  but  he  assured  them,  sooner  than  suffer  such 
humiliation,  he  would  fire  the  magazine  and  blow  fort  and  gar- 
rison into  the  air.  From  that  time,  the  insurgents  worked  dili- 
gently in  preparations  to  attack  the  fort,  and  the  garrison  worked 
as  diligently  in  preparations  for  its  defence.  Four  old  hulks 
filled  with  stones  were  towed  into  the  ship  channel  and  sunk 
there  by  the  South  Carolinians,  to  prevent  supplies  and  reenforce- 
ments  from  coming  into  the  harbor,  but  the  only  effect  was  to 
change  and  deepen  the  channel,  as  the  same  expedient  did  later 
when,  under  direction  of  Captain  now  Rear  Admiral  Chas.  H. 
Davis,  a  number  of  old  whalers  nicknamed  rat  ships,  were  added 
to  those  which  had  been  previously  sunk  by  the  rebels  for  the 
avowed  purpose  of  blockading  and  filling  the  channel.  This  ex- 
pedient has  been  often  tried  in  barred  harbors,  or  entrances  swept 
by  strong  tides  but  always  with  like  result.  The  same  effect  is 
shown  by  the  obstruction  of  piers,  wrecks,  etc.,  in  the  detention 


324  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

of  organic  substances,  in  tide-swept  harbors  and  rivers.  The 
mouths  of  the  Mississippi,  are  constantly  exhibiting  the  fact  ;  a 
vessel,  raft,  or  tree  stopped  upon  its  sand  bars,  gathers  the  sand 
around  it  frequently  so  that  the  object  is  thrown  or  borne  up 
and  can  be  walked  around,  but  the  running  water  always  cuts  a 
channel  elsewhere,  until  some  other  obstruction,  or  the  force  of 
inblowing  winds  pile  the  sand  in  another  place,  fed  from  the  sand 
about  the  first  obstruction  whether  vessel  or  tree,  until  it  is  cut 
away  and  the  object  floats  on. 

For  three  months  after  the  affair  of  the  Star  of  the  West  Ma- 
jor Anderson  and  his  little  band  suffered  and  toiled,  until  their 
provisions  were  exhausted,  and  a  formidable  army  with  forts 
and  batteries,  prepared  expressly  for  the  reduction  of  his  fortress, 
had  grown  up  around  him.  The  policy  of  the  government 
compelled  him  to  act  as  a  looker  on  and  not  interfere  to  ob- 
struct all  these  preparations  against  him.  On  the  3d  of  Feb., 
one  source  of  much  anxiety  for  the  garrison  was  removed,  the 
wives  and  children  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  in  Sumter  being 
then  borne  away  in  the  steamer  Marion  for  New  York.  They 
had  left  the  fort  on  the  25th  of  Jan.,  and  embarked  at  the  city. 
When  the  Marion  neared  Sumter,  the  whole  garrison  was  seen 
on  the  top  of  the  ramparts.  While  the  ship  was  passing  they 
fired  a  gun,  and  gave  three  cheers  as  a  parting  farewell  to  the 
loved  ones  on  board.  These  salutes  were  responded  to  by  the 
waving  of  handkerchiefs,  and  tears  and  sobs,  and  earnest  prayers 
both  silent  and  audible. 

On  the  1 8th  of  March,  while  the  secesh  gunners  were  fir- 
ing blank  cartridges  from  the  guns  of  the  iron  battery  at  Cum- 
mings  point  they  discharged  a  gun  that  was  loaded  with  ball, 
not  being  aware  of  the  fact.  The  ball  struck  the  wharf  of 
Fort  Sumter  close  to  the  gate.  Three  or  four  of  the  ports  of 
Sumter  fronting  the  battery,  were  at  once  opened,  but  no  return 
shot  was  given,  and  two  hours  after,  a  boat  was  sent  to  Major 
Anderson  to  explain  the  matter,  who  received  the  messenger  in 
good  part.  This  affair  caused  no  little  talk  and  excitement  in 
Charleston.1 

Major   Anderson    still    had    no   instructions    from    his    go- 


1  Charleston  Mercury,  March  19,  1861. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  325 

vernment  and  was  sore  perplexed.  On  the  1st  of  April,  he 
wrote  to  Lieut.  General  Scott  saying  :  "  I  think  the  government 
has  left  me  too  much  to  myself.  It  has  given  me  no  instruc- 
tions, even  when  I  have  asked  for  them,  and  I  think  responsi- 
bilities of  a  higher  and  more  important  character  have  devolved 
upon  me  than  are  proper."  To  the  adjutant  general  of  the 
army  he  wrote  :  "  Unless  we  receive  supplies,  I  shall  be 
compelled  to  stay  here  without  food  or  to  abandon  this  fort 
very  early  next  week."  The  next  day  he  wrote  :  "  Our  flag 
runs  an  hourly  risk  of  being  insulted,  and  my  hands  are  tied  by  my 
orders  ;  and  even  if  that  were  not  the  case  I  have  not  the  power 
to  protect  it.  God  grant  that  neither  I  nor  any  other  officer  of 
our  army  may  be  again  placed  in  a  position  of  such  humiliation 
and  mortification." 

Meanwhile  a  measure  for  the  relief  of  the  beleaguered  garrison 
hacf  been  planned.  On  the  I2th  of  March,  Mr.  Fox,  a  relative 
of  the  postmaster  general,  who  had  proposed  a  plan  of  relief 
earlier,  was  sent  to  visit  Charleston  harbor,  and  in  company 
with  Capt.  Hartstene  of  the  navy,  who  had  joined  the  insurgents, 
was  permitted  by  Gov.  Pickens  to  visit  Fort  Sumter  on  the  2ist. 
They  found  that  the  garrison  had  provisions  to  last  them  until 
the  1 5th  of  April,  and  it  was  understood  by  them  the  fort  must 
be  surrendered  or  evacuated  on  that  day.  On  his  return  to 
Washington,  Mr.  Fox,  reported  to  the  president  the  fact.1 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  now  satisfied  that  a  temporizing  policy  would 
not  do,  and  overruling  the  objections  of  the  general-in-chief 
and  military  authorities,  he  sent  for  Mr.  Fox,  and  verbally 
authorized  him  to  fit  out,  according  to  his  proposed  plan,  an 
expedition  for  the  relief  of  Sumter.  The  written  order  was  not 
given  until  the  afternoon  of  the  4th  April,  when  the  president 
informed  Mr.  Fox,  that  in  order  that  "  faith  as  to  Sumter  "  might 


1  "  Major  Anderson  seemed  to  think  it  was  too  late  to  relieve  the  fort  by  any  other 
means  than  by  landing  an  army  on  Morris  island.  He  agreed  with  General  Scott 
that  an  entrance  from  the  sea  was  impossible  ;  but  as  we  looked  out  upon  the  water 
from  the  parapet,  it  seemed  very  feasible,  more  especially  as  we  heard  the  oars  of  a 
boat  near  the  fort,  which  the  sentry  hailed,  but  we  could  not  see  her  through  the 
darkness  until  she  almost  touched  the  landing." 

"  I  found  the  garrison  getting  short  of  supplies,  and  it  was  agreed  that  I  mght  re- 
port that  the  fifteenth  of  April,  at  noon,  would  be  the  period  beyond  which  he  could 
not  hold  the  fort  unless  supplies  were  furnished." 

"  I  made  no  arrangements  with  Major  Anderson  for  reenforcing  or  supplying  the 
fort,  nor  did  I  inform  him  of  my  plan." — Extract*  from  Mr.  Fox't  letter. 


326  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

be  kept,  he  should  send  a  messenger  at  once  to  Gov.  Pickens 
that  he  was  about  to  forward  provisions,  only,  to  the  garrison ; 
and  if  these  supplies  should  be  allowed  to  enter,  no  more  troops 
would  be  sent  there.  These  orders  issued  by  the  secretary  of 
war  to  Mr.  Fox  and  by  the  secretary  of  the  navy  to  Capt.  Mer- 
cer, the  senior  naval  officer  of  the  expedition  were  as  follows  : 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  APRIL  4,  1861. 
"  SIR  :  It  having  been  decided  to  succor  Fort  Sumter,  you 
have  been  selected  for  this  important  duty.  Accordingly,  you 
will  take  charge  of  the  transports  in  New  York  having  the 
troops  and  supplies  on  board  to  the  entrance  of  Charleston  har- 
bor, and  endeavor,  in  the  first  instance,  to  deliver  the  subsistence. 
If  you  are  opposed  in  this,  you  are  directed  to  report  the  fact 
to  the  senior  naval  officer  off  the  harbor,  who  will  be  instructed 
by  the  secretary  of  the  navy  to  use  his  entire  force  to  open  a 
passage,  when  you  will,  if  possible,  effect  an  entrance  and  place 
both  the  troops  an^  supplies  in  Fort  Sumter.  I  am  sir,  very 
respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  SIMON  CAMERON. 
"Secretary  of  War." 

"  Captain  G.  V.  Fox. 

"  Washington,  D.  C." 

"  NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  APRIL  5,  1861. 
"  Captain  Samuel  Mercer,   Commanding 

United  States  Steamer  Powbatan,  New  York  : 

"  The  United  States  steamers  Powhatan,  Pawnee,  Pocahon- 
tas,  and  Harriet  Lane  will  compose  a  naval  force  under  your 
command,  to  be  sent  to  the  vicinity  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  for 
the  purpose  of  aiding  in  carrying  out  the  objects  of  an  expedi- 
tion of  which  the  war  department  has  charge. 

"  The  primary  object  of  the  expedition  is  to  provision  Fort 
Sumter,  for  which  purpose  the  war  department  will  furnish  the 
necessary  transports.  Should  the  authorities  of  Charleston  per- 
mit the  fort  to  be  supplied,  no  further  particular  service  will 
be  required  of  the  force  under  your  command  ;  and  after  being 
satisfied  that  supplies  have  been  received  at  the  fort,  the  Pow- 
hatan, Pocahontas,  and  Harriet  Lane  will  return  to  New  York, 
and  the  Pawnee  to  Washington. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  327 

"  Should  the  authorities  at  Charleston,  however,  refuse  to 
permit,  or  attempt  to  prevent  the  vessel  or  vessels  having  sup- 
plies on  board  from  entering  the  harbor,  or  from  peaceably  pro- 
ceeding to  Fort  Sumter,  you  will  protect  the  transports  or  boats 
of  the  expedition  in  the  object  of  their  mission,  disposing  of 
your  force  in  such  a  manner  as  to  open  the  way  for  their  ingress, 
and  afford,  so  far  as  practicable,  security  to  the  men  and  boats, 
and  repelling  by  force,  if  necessary,  all  obstructions  toward 
provisioning  the  fort  and  reenforcing  it ;  for  in  case  of  a  re- 
sistance to  the  peaceable  primary  object  of  the  expedition,  a  re- 
enforcement  of  the  garrison  will  also  be  attempted.  These 
purposes  will  be  under  the  supervision  of  the  war  department, 
which  has  charge  of  the  expedition.  The  expedition  has  been 
intrusted  to  Captain  G.  V.  Fox,  with  whom  you  will  put  your- 
self in  communication  and  co-operate  with  him  to  accomplish 
and  carry  into  effect  its  object." 

"  You  will  leave  New  York  with  the  Powhatan  in  time  to 
be  off  Charleston  bar,  ten  miles  distant  from  and  due  east  of 
the  lighthouse,  on  the  morning  of  the  eleventh  instant,  there  to 
await  the  arrival  of  the  transport  or  transports  with  troops  and 
stores.  The  Pawnee  and  Pocahontas  will  be  ordered  to  join 
you  there  at  the  time  mentioned,  and  also  the  Harriet  Lane." 

***** 

"  GIDEON  WELLES. 

u  Secretary  of  the  Navy." 

Mr.  Fox  proceeded  to  New  York  on  the  5th  of  April  and, 
exercising  untiring  industry  and  indomitable  energy,  was  able  to 
sail  from  that  point  on  the  morning  of  the  gth,  with  two  hun- 
dred recruits  in  the  steamer  Baltic,  Captain  Fletcher.  The 
entire  relief  squadron  consisted  of  the  United  States  ships,  Pow- 
batan,  Capt.  Mercer,  Pawnee,  Commander  Rowan,  Pocabontas, 
Commander  Gillis,  revenue  steamer,  Harriet  Lane,  Capt. 
Faunce,  and  the  steam  tugs  Yankee,  Uncle  Ben,  znd^Freeborn.  The 
Powhatan  left  New  York  on  the  6th,  but  when  passing  down 
New  York  bay  was,  by  a  special  order  of  the  president,  taken 
from  the  expedition,  by  Lieut.,  now  Admiral  David  D.  Porter, 
who  sailed  in  her  to  the  relief  of  Fort  Pickens,  at  the  mouth  of 
Pensacola  bay.  The  Pawnee  left  Norfolk  on  the  Qth  and  the 


328  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Pocahontas  the  same  place  on  the  loth.  The  tugs  Freeborn  and 
Uncle  Ben  left  New  York  on  the  yth,  the  Harriet  Lane,  and 
tug  Yankee  on  the  8th,  and  all  were  ordered  to  rendevous  off 
Charleston. 

Soon  after  leaving  New  York,  the  expedition  encountered  a 
heavy  storm,  by  which  the  Freeborn  was  driven  back ;  the 
Uncle  Ben  obliged  to  put  into  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  where  she  was 
captured  by  the  insurgents  ;  and  the  Yankee,  losing  her  smoke 
stack,  was  not  able  to  reach  Charleston  bar  until  too  late  to  be  of 
service. 

The  Baltic  reached  the  bar  on  the  morning  of  the  I2th  just 
as  the  insurgents  opened  fire  on  Fort  Sumter.  The  Pawnee,  and 
Harriet  Lane  were  already  there  with  orders  to  report  to  the 
Powhatan,  the  secretary  of  the  navy  not  having  been  advised  of 
her  change  of  orders.  Mr.  Fox  boarded  the  Pawnee,  informed 
Capt.,  now  Vice  Admiral  Rowan,  of  his  orders,  offered  to  send 
in  provisions,  and  asked  him  to  convoy  the  Baltic  over  the  bar. 
Capt.  Rowan  replied,  that  "  his  orders  required  him  to  remain 
ten  miles  east  of  the  light,  and  await  the  Powhatan,  and  that  he 
was  not  going  in  there  to  inaugurate  civil  war."1  Mr.  Fox,  in 
the  Baltic,  then  stood  toward  the  bar,  followed  by  the  Harriet 
Lane,  Capt.  Faunce,  who  cheerfully  accompanied  him.  "  As  we 
neared  the  land,"  says  Mr.  Fox  in  his  narrative,  "  heavy  guns  were 
heard,  and  the  smoke  and  shells  from  the  batteries,  which  had 
just  opened  fire  upon  Sumter,  were  distinctly  visible." 

"  I  immediately  stood  out  to  inform  Captain  Rowan,  of  the 
Pawnee,  but  met  him  coming  in.  He  hailed  me,  and  asked 
for  a  pilot,  declaring  his  intention  of  standing  into  the  harbor,  and 
sharing  the  fate  of  his  brethren  of  the  army.  I  went  on  board 
and  informed  him  that  I  would  answer  for  it ;  that  the  govern- 
ment did  not  expect  any  such  gallant  sacrifice,  having"  settled 
maturely  upon  the  policy  indicated  in  the  instructions  to  Captain 
Mercer  and  myself.  No  other  naval  vessels  arrived  during  this 
day  ;  but  the  steamer  Nashville,  from  New  York,  and  a  number 
of  merchant-vessels,  reached  the  bar,  and  awaited  the  result  of 
the  bombardment,  giving  indications  to  those  inside  of  a  large 
naval  fleet  off  the  harbor.  The  weather  continued  very  bad, 
with  a  heavy  sea ;  neither  the  Pawnee  nor  the  Harriet  Lane  had 


1  Mr.  Fox's  statement. 


FLAG  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES.  329 

boats  or  men  to  carry  in  supplies ;  feeling  sure  that  the  Powhatan 
would  arrive  during  the  night,  as  she  had  sailed  from  New 
York  two  days  before  us,  I  stood  out  to  the  appointed  ren- 
dezvous, and  made  signals  all  night.  The  morning  of  the 
thirteenth  was  thick  and  foggy,"  with  a  very  heavy  ground-swell. 
The  Baltic,  feeling  her  way  in,  ran  ashore  on  Rattlesnake  shoal, 
but  soon  got  off  without  damage.  On  account  of  the  very 
heavy  swell,  she  was  obliged  to  anchor  in  deep  water,  several 
miles  outside  of  the  Pawnee  and  Harriet  Lane. 

"Lieutenant  Robert  O.  Tyler,  an  officer  of  very  great  zeal 
and  fidelity,  though  suffering  from  sea-sickness,  as  were  most  of 
the  recruits,  organized  a  boat's  crew  and  exercised  them,  not- 
withstanding the  heavy  sea,  for  the  purpose  of  having  at  least 
one  boat  in  the  absence  of  the  Powhatan's,  to  reach  Fort  Sumter. 
At  eight  A.  M.,  I  took  this  boat,  and  in  company  with  Lieu- 
tenant Hudson,  pulled  in  to  the  Pawnee.  As  we  approached 
that  vessel,  a  great  volume  of  black  smoke  issued  from  Fort 
Sumter,  through  which  the  flash  of  Major  Anderson's  guns  still  re- 
plied to  the  rebel  fire.  The  quarters  of  the  fort  were  on  fire, 
and  most  of  our  military  and  navy  officers  believed  the  smoke  to 
proceed  from  an  attempt  to  smoke  out  the  garrison  with  fire- 
rafts. 

"As  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  officers  that  no  boats  with 
any  load  in  them  could  have  reached  Sumter  in  this  heavy  sea, 
and  no  tug-boats  had  arrived,  it  was  proposed  to  capture  a 
schooner  near  us,  loaded  with  ice,  which  was  done,  and  prepara- 
tions at  once  commenced  to  fit  her  out,  and  load  her  for  enter- 
ing the  harbor  the  following  night.  I  now  learned,  for  the  first 
time,  that  Captain  Rowan  had  received  a  note  from  Captain 
Mercer,  of  the  Powhatan,  dated  at  New  York,  the  sixth,  the 
day  he  sailed,  stating  that  the  Powhatan  was  detached,  by  order  of 
superior  authority,  from  the  duty  to  which  she  was  assigned  off 
Charleston,  and  had  sailed  for  another  destination." 

Before  the  schooner  could  be  prepared,  Fort  Sumter  had 
surrendered. 

The  Pochahontas  arrived  at  2  P.  M.,  and  half  an  hour  after, 

the  flag  of  Sumter  was  shot  away  and  not  raised  again ;  but  we 

are  anticipating  that  event.     The  plan  for  supplying  Fort  Sumter 

required  three  hundred  sailors,  a  full  supply  of  armed  launches, 

42 


330  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

and  three  tugs.  The  Powhatan,  secretly  detached  from  the 
expedition,  carried  the  sailors  and  launches;  and  the  tugs  had 
been  disabled  and  put  back ;  which,  with  the  unfavorable  state  of 
the  sea  and  weather,  are  reasons  enough  for  the  non-success  of 
the  attempt. 

The  president  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Fox,  dated  May  ist,  1861, 
said  :  "  I  sincerely  regret  that  the  failure  of  the  late  attempt  to 
provision  Fort  Sumter  should  be  the  source  of  any  annoyance 
to  you.  The  practicability  of  your  plan  was  not,  in  fact, 
brought  to  a  test  by  reason  of  a  gale  well  known  in  advance  to  be 
possible,  and  not  improbable  ;  the  tugs,  an  essential  part  of  the  plan, 
never  reached  the  ground  ;  while,  by  an  accident  for  which  you 
were  in  no  wise  responsible,  and  possibly  I,  to  some  extent 
was,  you  were  deprived  of  a  war  vessel  with  her  men,  which 
you  deemed  of  great  importance  to  the  enterprise." 

The  message  of  President  Lincoln  to  Gov.  Pickens,  concern- 
ing sending  supplies  to  Sumter,  was  made  known  at  Charleston, 
on  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  April,  and  produced  intense  excite- 
ment. General  Beauregard  sent  a  telegram  to  Montgomery, 
which  was  replied  to  on  the  loth,  conditionally  authorizing  him 
to  demand  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  if  that  was  refused 
to  reduce  it. 

At  2  P.  M.  Thursday,  the  nth,  Beauregard  sent  a  letter  to 
Major  Anderson,  in  which  he  conveyed  a  demand  to  evacuate  Sum- 
ter. Anderson  at  once  replied,  by  letter,  that  his  sense  of  honor 
and  obligations  to  his  government  would  not  allow  him  to  comply, 
but  remarked  to  one  of  the  confederate  officers  :  "  I  will  await 
the  first  shot,  and  if  you  do  not  batter  us  to  pieces  we  will  be  starved 
out  in  a  few  days."  This  remark  was  telegraphed  to  Montgo- 
mery. The  rebel  secretary  of  war,  L.  P.  Walker,  telegraphed 
back  that  if  Major  Anderson  would  state  the  time  when  he  would 
evacuate,  and  agree  that,  meanwhile,  he  would  not  use  his  guns 
against  them,  unless  theirs  should  be  employed  against  Fort 
Sumter,  Beauregard  was  authorized  to  avoid  the  effusion  of 
blood.  If  this  or  its  equivalent  was  refused,  he  was  to  reduce 
the  fort  in  any  way  his  judgment  deemed  practicable.  This 
message  was  delivered  to  Major  Anderson,  at  one  A.  M.,  the 
1 2th,  when  the  latter,  in  ignorance  of  what  government  had  been 
doing  for  his  relief,  replied,  that,  should  he  not  receive  con- 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  331 

trolling  instructions  from  his  goverment  or  additional  supplies,  he 
would  leave  the  fort  by  noon  on  the  I5th.  By  request  of  Col. 
Chesnut,  one  of  the  messengers,  Anderson's  reply  was  handed  to 
them  unsealed.  Scouts  had  discovered  the  Harriet  Lane  and 
Pawnee,  off  the  bar,  and  reported  the  fact  to  Beauregard,  who  di- 
rected his  messenger  to  receive  an  open  reply  from  Anderson, 
and  if  it  should  not  be  satisfactory  they  were  to  exercise  the  dis- 
cretionary powers  given  them.  They  accordingly  consulted  a 
few  minutes  in  the  room  of  the  officer  of  the  guard,  and  deciding 
it  was  not  satisfactory,  at  3.20  .A.  M.,  April  1 2,  addressed  a  note  to 
Anderson  saying :  "  By  authority  of  Brigadier  General  Beaure- 
gard, commanding  the  provisional  forces  of  the  Confederate  states, 
we  have  the  honor  to  notify  you  that  he  will  open  the  fire  of  his  bat- 
teries on  Fort  Sumter  in  one  hour  from  this  time."  They  imme- 
diately left  the  fort,  when  the  frag  was  raised,  the  postern  closed, 
the  sentinels  withdrawn  from  the  parapet,  and  orders  given  that 
the  men  should  not  leave  the  bomb  proofs  without  special  orders. 
Patiently,  firmly,  almost  silently,  the  little  band  in  Fort  Sumter 
waited  the  passage  of  that  pregnant  hour.  Suddenly  the  dull 
booming  of  a  gun,  fired  by  Lieutenant  H.  S.  Farley,  from  a 
signal  battery  on  James  island,  near  Fort  Johnston,  was  heard, 
and  a  fiery  shell  went  flying  through  the  black  night  and  ex- 
ploded immediately  over  Fort  Sumter.  The  sound  of  that  mor- 
tar was  the  signal  for  battle.  After  a  brief  pause  the  heavy 
cannon  on  Cummings  point  opened  fire.  To  Edmund  Ruffin,  of 
Virginia,  a  grey  haired  old  man  who  committed  suicide  at  the  close 
of  the  war  because  he  was  unable  to  survive  the  defeat  of  his 
cause,  belongs  the  infamous  honor  of  firing  the  first  shot  against 
our  flag.  He  hastened  to  Morris  island  when  hostilities  seemed 
near,  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  Palmetto  guard  and  asked  the 
privilege  of  firing  the  first  gun  on  Sumter.  It  was  granted  and  he 
has  acquired  an  unenviable  fame.  He  committed  suicide  by  a 
singular  coincidence  on  the  iyth  of  June,  1865,  the  anniversary  of 
the  battle  of  Bunker  hill,  at  the  residence  of  his  son  near  Dan- 
ville, Va.,  by  blowing  off  the  top  of  his  head  with  a  gun,  first  writ- 
ing a  note  in  which  he  said  :  "  I  cannot  survive  the  liberties  of  my 
country."  The  first  shot  from  Cummings  point  was  quickly 
followed  by  others  from  the  semicircle  of  military  works  ar- 
rayed around  the  fort  for  its  reduction.  Full  thirty  heavy  guns 


332  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

and  mortars  opened  at  once.  For  two  hours  and  more  there 
was  no  reply  from  Sumter,  the  storm  of  shot  and  shell  seeming 
to  make  no  impression  upon  it.  This  silence  mortified  the  in- 
surgents. Anderson  gave  orders  for  the  men  to  remain  in  the 
bomb  proofs.  He  had  men  enough  to  work  but  nine  guns,  and 
it  was  necessary  to  guard  against  casualities.  At  half  past  six 
the  garrison  partook  of  a  hearty  breakfast  little  disturbed  by  the 
hurling  of  the  iron  hail  outside  of  them.  It  was  now  broad 
daylight,  and  at  seven  o'clock  Anderson  ordered  a  reply  to  the 
attack.  The  first  gun  was  fired  at  the  Stevens  battery  on  Mor- 
ris island  by  Captain  Abner  Doubleday,1  and  a  fire  from  the  fort 
on  all  the  principal  opposing  batteries  followed.  The  first  solid 
shot  from  Sumter  hurled  at  fort  Moultrie  was  fired  by  Assist. 
Surgeon  S.  W.  Crawford.  It  lodged  in  the  sand  bags  and  was 
carried  by  the  special  reporter  of  the  Charleston  Mercury  to  the 
office  of  that  journal. 

At  noon  on  that  fearful  day  Surgeon  Crawford,  who  had  as- 
cended the  parapet  to  make  observations,  reported  that,  through 
the  stormy,  misty  air,  he  saw  the  relief  squadron  bearing  the  dear 
old  flag.  They  signaled  their  mission  by  dipping  their  ensigns. 
Sumter  could  not  respond  for  its  ensign  was  entangled  in  the 
halyards  which  had  been  cut  by  the  enemy's  shot,  but  it  still 
waved  defiantly.  The  vessels  could  not  cross  the  bar.  Its 
sinuous  and  shifting  channels  were  always  difficult  in  fine 
weather ;  now  the  bouys  had  been  removed,  ships  sunken 
in  the  channels,  and  a  blinding  storm  was  prevailing.  Dur- 
ing the  day  the  men  worked  at  the  guns  without  intermission 
and  received  food  and  drink  at  their  posts.  The  supply  of 
cartridges  began  to  fail,  and  before  sunset  all  but  six  of  the 
guns  were  abandoned.  These  were  worked  until  after  dark 
when  the  port  holes  were  closed,  and  the  garrison  was  divided 
into  watches  for  work  and  repose.  Several  men  had  been 


1  General  Doubleday  himself  informed  me  that  he  fired  the  first  shotted  gun  from 
Sumter  at  the  rebel  batteries.  The  bombardment  of  Sumter  was  opened  on  Henry 
Clay's  birth  day,  and  the  fortress  was  surrendered  on  Jefferson's  birth  day.  It  may  in- 
terest those  curious  in  such  accidental  coincidences  to  know  that  the  first  serious  con- 
flict of  the  civil  war  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore,  April  19,  1861,  was  on  the 
anniversary  of  the  battles  of  Lexington  and  Concord. 

In  the  New  York  stock  exchange,  April  12,  when  Kentucky  sixes  were  called, 
the  whole  board  sprang  to  their  feet  and  gave  three  cheers  for  the  gallant  Major 
Anderson. —  Evening  Post. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  333 

wounded,    but    none  mortally.     Thus  closed  the  first  day  of 
actual  war  upon  our  flag. 

The  night  was  dark  and  stormy  ;  all  night  long  the  mortars  of 
the  rebels  kept  up  a  slow  bombardment.  The  naval  comman- 
ders outside  were  prevented  by  the  storm  from  sending  in  re- 
lief. Before  dawn  the  storm  ceased  and  the  sun  rose  in  splendor  ; 
but  earlier  than  that  the  vigorous  bombardment  and  cannonade 
at  the  devoted  fortress  was  renewed.  Red  hot  shot  were  used. 
Four  times  on  Friday  the  buildings  inside  the  fort  were  set  on 
fire,  and  the  fires  extinguished  ;  the  barracks  and  officers  quar- 
ters were  again  and  again  ignited,  and  at  last  destroyed.  The 
safety  of  the  magazine,  and  the  reserving  of  sufficient  powder 
to  last  until  the  I5th,  became  now  the  absorbing  care  of  the  com- 
mander.1 Blankets  and  flannel  shirts,  the  sleeves  of  the  latter 
being  readily  converted,  were  used  for  making  cartridges,  and  every 
man  within  the  fort  was  fully  employed.  The  last  particle  of  rice 
was  cooked,  and  nothing  left  for  the  garrison  to  eat  but  salt  pork. 
The  flames  spread,  and  the  -heat  became  most  intolerable.  The 
fire  approached  the  magazine,  and  its  doors  were  closed  and  locked ; 
glowing  embers  were  scattered  all  about  the  fort.  The  main  gate 
took  fire,  and  very  soon  the  blackened  sally  port  was  open  to 
the  beseigers.  The  powder  in  the  service  magazine  was  so  ex- 
posed to  the  flames  that  ninety  barrels  of  it  were  thrown  into  the 
sea.  The  assailants  knew  that  the  fort  was  on  fire,  and  that 
its  inmates  were  dwellers  in  a  heated  furnace,  yet  they  redoubled 
the  rapidity  of  their  fire,  and  poured  in  upon  it  red  hot  shot 
from  most  of  their  guns.  The  men  were  frequently  com- 
pelled to  lie  upon  the  ground,  with  wet  handkerchiefs  on  their 
faces,  to  prevent  suffocation  by  smoke  ;  yet  they  would  not  sur- 
render, but  bravely  kept  the  old  flag  flying.2 


1  A  gentleman  who  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Sumter  states  that  a  ninety- 
six  pound  shell  entered  that  fortification  just  above  the  magazine  but  outside  of  it, 
descended  through  a  block  of  granite  ten  or  twelve  inches  thick,  and  exploded,  one 
of  its  fragments,  weighing  near  twenty  pounds,  striking  the  door  of  the  magazine,  and 
so  bending  it  inwards  that  it  was  afterwards  found  impossible  to  close  it  without  the 
aid  of  a  mechanic.  Within  a  few  hours  after  this  occurrence  a  red  hot  shot  from 
Fort  Moultrie  passed  through  the  outer  wall  of  the  magazine,  penetrated  the  inner 
wall  to  the  depth  of  four  inches,  and  then  fell  to  the  ground.  All  this  time  grains 
of  powder,  spilled  by  the  men  in  passing  to  and  from  the  casements  and  magazine, 
were  lying  loose  upon  the  floor,  which  ignited  by  a  spark  would  have  blown  the 
structure  to  atoms.  Charleston  Courier,  June  n. 

8  In  this  account  of  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  I  have  followed  and  condensed  the  nar- 


334 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


Eight  times  had  the  flagstaff  been  hit  without  serious  injury  ; 
but  at  twenty  minutes  before  one  o'clock,  it  was  shot  away 

^  ^          near  the  peak,    and  the  flag,  with  a 

portion  of  the  staff,  fell  down  through 
the  thick  smoke  among  the  gleaming 
embers.  Through  the  blinding,  scorch- 
ing tempest,  Lieut.  Hall  rushed  and 
snatched  it  up  before  it  could  take  fire. 
It  was  immediately  carried  by  Lieut. 
Snyder  to  the  ramparts  and  Sergeant 
Hart,1  who  had  been  permitted  to  come 
to  the  fort  with  Mrs.  Anderson  in  Janu- 
ary, and  remained  after  she  had  left  on  a 
pledge  that  he  should  not  be  enrolled 
as  a  soldier,  sprang  upon  the  sand  bags, 
and  with  the  assistance  of  Lyman,  a 

Baltimore  mason  fastened  the  fragment  of  the  staff  there,  and 
left  the  soiled  banner  flying  defiantly  while  shot  and  shell  were 
filling  the  air  like  hail.  Thus  repeating  a  similar  historical  feat 
performed  near  the  same  spot  by  the  brave  and  patriotic  Ser- 
geant Jasper  eighty-five  years  before.  The  halyards  were  so 
inextricably  tangled  that  the  flag  could  not  be  righted.  It  was 
therefore  nailed  to  the  staff  and  planted  upon  the  ramparts.2 

At  half  past  one,  Gen.  Wigfall,  who  had  been  United  States  se- 
nator from  Texas,  came  in  a  little  boat,  accompanied  by  one  white, 
and  two  colored  men,  to  the  fort  bearing  a  white  handkerchief 
as  a  flag  of  truce  and  demanded  admittance.  He  asked  to  enter 
an  embrasure,  but  was  denied.  "  I  am  Gen.  Wigfall  "  he  said, 
"  and  wish  to  see  Major  Anderson."  The  soldier  told  him  to 


Nailing  the  flag  on  Fort 
Sumter. 


rative  in  Lossing's  History  of  the  Civil  War,  examining  and  quoting  largely  from  other 
authors  and  official  reports  on  the  subject.  Mr  Lossing  was  furnished  by  Major  Ander- 
son with  his  letter  books  and  papers,  and  had  unusual  sources  for  correct  information. 

1  Hall  was  at  the  time  a  musician,  but  subsequently  received  a  lieutenant's  commis- 
sion in   the  regular   army.     Hart  was  a   sergeant  of  the  New  York   Metropolitan 
police.     He  had  served  with  Major  Anderson  in  the  Mexican  war. 

2  Mr.    Raymond   at  the    Union  Park  meeting  said :   "  I  heard  an  anecdote  to  day 
from  Major  Anderson.     During  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter,  a  report  came  here  that 
the  flag  on  the  morning  of  the  fight  was  half  mast.     I  asked  him  if  it  was  true  and 
he  said  there  was  not  a  word   of  truth   in  the  report.      During  the  firing  one  of  the 
halyards  was  shot  away,  and  the  flag  dropped  down,  in  consequence,  a  few  feet.     The 
rope  caught  in  the  staff  and  could  not  be  reached  so  that  the  flag   could  neither  be 
lowered  nor  hoisted,  and,  said  the  major,  '  God  Almighty  nailed  that  flag  to  the  mast 
and  I  could  not  have  lowered  it  if  I  had  tried.' 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  335 

stay  there  until   he  could  see  his  commander.     "For  God  sake 
let  me  in  cried  the  gallant  new  made  general,  I  can't  stand  out 
here  in  the  firing."     He  then  hurried  around  to  the  sally  port, 
where  he  had  asked  an  interview  with  Anderson.     Finding  the 
passage   strewn   with  the  burning  timbers  of  the  fort,  in  utter 
despair  he  ran   around   the  fort  waving  his  white  handkerchief 
imploringly  toward  his   fellow  insurgents,  to  stop  their  firing. 
It  was  useless  ;  the  missiles  fell  thick  and  fast  and  at  last  he  was 
permitted  to  crawl  into  an  embrasure,  after  he  had  given  up  his 
sword  to  a   private,  and  when  almost   exhausted  with  fatigue 
and  affright.     Meeting  several  officers  at  the  embrasure,  trem- 
bling with  excitement,  he  exclaimed  :  "  I  am  General  Wigfall ! 
I  come  from  Gen.  Beauregard,  who   wants  to  stop  this  blood- 
shed !     You  are  on  fire,  your  flag  is  down  ;  let  us  stop  this  fir- 
ing ! "     One  of  the  officers  replied  :  '  our  flag  is  not  down,  sir,  it  is 
yet  flying  from  the  ramparts."     Wigfall   saw  it  where  Peter 
Hart  and  his  comrades  had  nailed  it  and  said  :  "  Well,  well,  I 
want  to  stop  this."     Holding  out  his  sword  and  handkerchief  he 
said  to   one  of  the   officers  :   "  Will  you  hoist  this  ?  "     "  No, 
sir,"  was  the  reply  "it  is  for  you,  Gen.  Wigfall,  to  stop  them." 
"  Will  any  one  of  you  hold  this  out  of  the  embrasure  ?  "  he  asked. 
No  one  offering,  he  said  :  "  May  I  hold  it  then  ?  "     "  If  you 
wish  to,"  was  the  cool  reply.     Wigfall  sprang  into  the  embra- 
sure, or  port  hole,  and  waved  the  white  flag  several  times.     A 
shot  striking  near  frightened  him  away  when  he  cried  out  ex- 
citedly :  "  Will   you  let  some  one  show  this  flag  ?  "     Corporal 
Charles  Bringhurst,  by  permission,  took  the  handkerchief  and 
waved  it  out  of  the  port  hole,  but  he  soon  abandoned  the  peril- 
ous duty  exclaiming :  "  I  won't   hold   that   flag,  for  they  don't 
respect  it.     They  are  firing  at  it."     Wigfall  replied  impatiently  : 
"  They  fired  at  me  two  or  three  times,  and  I  stood  it  ;  I  should 
think  you  might  stand  it  once."     Turning  to  Lieut.  Davis,  he 
said  :  "  If  you  will  show  a  white  flag  from  your  ramparts,  they 
will  cease  firing."     "  It  shall   be  done,"  said  Davis,  "  if  you 
request  it  for  that  purpose,  and   that  alone  of  holding  a  confer- 
ence with  Major  Anderson." 

Major  Anderson,  with  Lt.  Snyder  and  Asst.  Surgeon  Crawford 
had  in  the  meantime  passed  out  of  the  sally  port  to  meet  Wigfall. 
He  was  not  there  so  they  returned,  and  just  as  Lt.  Davis  had 


336  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

agreed  to  display  a  white  flag  they  came  up.  Wigfall  said  to 
Major  Anderson  :  "I  come  from  General  Beauregard  who  wishes 
to  stop  this,  sir."  "  Well,  sir  !  "  said  Anderson  rising  upon  his 
toes  and  settling  firmly  upon  his  heels,  as  he  looked  him  in  the 
face,  with  sharp  inquiry.  "  You  have  defended  your  flag  nobly, 
sir,"  continued  Wigfall  ;  "  You  have  done  all  that  can  be  done, 
sir.  Your  fort  is  on  fire.  Let  us  stop  this.  Upon  what  terms 
will  you  evacuate  the  fort,  sir  ?  "  Anderson  replied,  "  General 
Beauregard  already  knows  the  terms  upon  which  I  will  evacu- 
ate this  fort,  sir.  Instead  of  noon  on  the  I5th,  I  will  go  now." 
"  I  understand  you  to  say,"  said  Wigfall  eagerly,  "  that  you 
will  evacuate  this  fort  now,  sir,  upon  the  same-  terms  proposed 
to  you  by  General  Beauregard  ?  "  Anderson  answered,  "  Yes, 
sir,  upon  those  terms  only,  sir."  "Then,"  said  Wigfall,  inquir- 
ingly, "the  fort  is  to  be  ours  ?"  Yes,  sir,  upon  those  condi- 
tions," answered  Anderson,  "  Then  I  will  return  to  General 
Beauregard,"  said  Wigfall,  and  immediately  left.1  Believing 
what  had  been  said  to  him  to  be  true,  Major  Anderson  allowed 
a  white  flag  to  be  raised  over  the  fort.  At  a  little  before  ten 
o'clock  Cols.  Chesnut,  Pryor,  Miles  and  Capt.  Lee,  went  over 
from  General  Beauregard,  who  was  at  Fort  Moultrie,  to  inquire 
the  meaning  of  the  white  flag.  When  informed  of  the  visit  of 
Wigfall,  they  exchanged  significant  glances,  and  smiles,  and 
Col.  Chesnut  frankly  informed  Major  Anderson  that  the  Texan 
militia  general  had  not  seen  Beauregard  for  the  last  two  days. 
Wishing  to  secure  for  himself  the  honor  of  procuring  the  sur- 
render of  Fort  Sumter,  Wigfall  had,  by  misrepresentations, 
obtained  leave  from  the  rebel  commander  on  Morris  island 
to  go  to  the  fort  with  a  white  flag  in  his  hand,  and  a  falsehood 
on  his  lips.  Assured  of  WigfalPs  mendacity,  Anderson  said 
to  the  new  deputation  :  "  That  white  flag  shall  come  down  im- 
mediately." They  begged  him  to  leave  matters  as  they  were 
until  they  could  see  Gen.  Beauregard.  He  did  so  and  the  firing 
ceased.  At  two  p.  M.  the  Pocahontas  joined  the  relief  fleet 
outside  and  at  half  past  two  the  flag  of  Sumter  was  shot  away 
and  not  raised  again. 


1  This  account  of  Wigfall's  adventure  is  taken  from  Lossing's  Civil  War  vol.  i, 
p.  326-7.  Mr.  Lossing  derived  it  from  the  written  statements  of  Capt.  Seymour,  Sur- 
geon Crawford  and  private  Thompson,  and  the  verbal  statements  of  Major  Anderson. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  337 

During  the  afternoon  and  early  evening,  several  deputations 
from  General  Beauregard  visited  Major  Anderson,  endeavoring 
to  obtain  better  terms  than  he  had  proposed  but  he  was  firm. 
They  offered  assistance  in  extinguishing  the  flames  in  Sumter. 
He  declined  it  regarding  it  as  an  adroit  method  of  asking  him  to 
surrender  which  he  had  resolved  never  to  do.  Finally  between 
seven  and  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  Major  D.  R.  Jones,  accom- 
panied by  Cols.  Miles  and  Pryor,  and  Capt.  Hartstene  formerly 
of  our  navy,  arrived  at  the  fort  with  a  letter  from  Beauregard 
containing  an  agreement  for  the  evacuation  of  the  fort  according 
to  Anderson's  terms,  namely,  the  departure  of  the  garrison,  with 
company  arms  and  property,  and  all  private  property,  and  the 
privilege  of  saluting  and  retaining  his  flag.  Anderson  accepted 
the  agreement,  and  detailed  Lieut.  Snyder  to  accompany  Capt. 
Hartstene  to  the  relief  squadron,  outside,  to  make  arrangements 
for  the  departure  of  the  garrison.  A  part  of  that  night,  the 
defenders  of  Fort  Sumter  enjoyed  undisturbed  repose.  Not 
one  of  their  number  had  been  killed  or  seriously  wounded  in 
that  thirty-six  hour  bombardment  during  which  over  three  thou- 
sand shot  and  shell  were  hurled  at  the  fort.  The  same  extraor- 
dinary immunity  from  casuality  was  claimed  by  the  rebels,  and 
it  is  said  the  only  living  thing  killed  in  the  conflict,  was  a  fine 
horse  belonging  to  Gen.  Dunnovant,  which  had  been  hitched 
to  Fort  Moultrie.  It  was  too  extraordinary  for  ready  belief,  and 
for  a  long  time  there  was  doubt  about  the  matter,  at  home  and 
abroad  ;  testimony  shows  that  it  was  true. 

A  fortnight  later  a  correspondent  of  Vanity  Fair  sung  in  the 
following  strain  : 

"So  to  make  the  story  short 
The  traitors  took  the  fort 
After  thirty  hours  sport 

With  their  balls; 
But  the  victory  is  not  theirs 
Though  their  brazen  banner  flares 

From  its  walls. 

"  It  were  better  they  should  dare 
The  lion  in  his  lair 
Or  defy  the  grizzly  bear 

In  his  den, 
43 


338  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Than  to  wake  the  fearful  cry 
That  is  raising  up  on  high 
From  our  men. 

"  To  our  banner  we  are  clinging 
And  a  song  we  are  singing 
Whose  chonjs  is  ringing 
From  each  mouth  ; 
'Tis  the  old  constitution 
And  a  stern  retribution 
To  the  south". 


The  news  soon  spread  in  Charleston.  Gov.  Pickens  who 
had  watched  the  bombardment  all  Saturday  morning  with  a 
telescope,,  in  the  evening  addressed  the  excited  populace  from 
the  balcony  of  the  Charleston  Hotel.  "Thank  God!"  he 
exclaimed  :  "  the  war  is  open,  and  we  will  conquer  or  perish. 
We  have  humbled  the  flag  of  the  United  States.  I  can  say 
to  you  it  is  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  this  country  that  the 
stars  and  stripes  have  been  humbled.  That  proud  flag  was 
never  lowered  before  to  any  nation  on  the  earth.  We  have 
lowered  it  in  humility  before  the  Palmetto  and  Confederate 
flags ;  and  we  have  compelled  them  to  raise  by  their  side 
the  white  flag,  and  ask  for  an  honorable  surrender.  The  flag 
of  the  United  States  has  triumphed  for  seventy  years  ;  but  to 
day,  the  I3th  of  April,  it  has  been  humbled,  and  humbled 
before  the  glorious  little  state  of  South  Carolina."1 

The  populace  were  wild  with  delight  and  indulged  in  a  sa- 
turnalia of  excitement  in  the  rebellious  city. 

1  Major  Anderson's  gallant  defense,  however,  received  the  applause  of  the  enemies. 
3alladofi%6i,  says: 

'  Mid  fiery  storms  of  shot  and  shell, 

'  Mid  smoke  and  roaring  flame 
See  how  Kentucky's  gallant  son 

Does  honor  to  her  name. 

See  how  he  answers  gun  for  gun, 

Hurrah  !  his  flag  is  down. 
The  white !  the  white  !  oh,  see  it  wave 

Is  echoed  all  around. 

God  save  the  gallant  Anderson, 

All  honor  to  his  name; 
A  soldier's  duty  nobly  done 

He's  earned  a  hero's  fame." 

E.  O.  M.,  Columbia  (S.  C.)  Banner. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  339 

The  next  morning,  being  Sunday,  the  fall  of  Sumter  was 
commemorated  in  the  Charleston  churches.  The  venerable 
bishop  of  the  diocese,  Thomas  Frederic  Davis,  D.D.,  wholly 
blind  and  physically  feeble,  said  a  local  chonicler,  "  was  led  by 
the  rector  to  the  sacred  desk"  in  old  St.  Phillip's  church,  and 
addressed  the  people  with  a  few  stirring  words.  He  said : 
"  Your  boys  and  mine  were  there,  and  it  was  right  they  should 
be  there."  He  declared  it  to  be  his  belief  that  the  contest  had 
been  begun  by  the  South  Carolinians  "  in  the  deepest  conviction 
of  duty  to  God  and  after  laying  their  cause  before  God  ;  and  God 
had  most  signally  blest  their  dependence  on  Him."  Bishop 
Lynd  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  spoke  exultingly  of  the 
result  of  the  conflict ;  and  a  Te  Deum  was  chanted  in  the  Ca- 
thedral of  St.  John  and  St.  Finbar,1  where  he  was  officiating. 

On  Sunday  morning,  April  14,  1861),  long  before  dawn,  Major 
Anderson  and  his  command  made  preparations  for  leaving  the  fort. 
These  were  completed  at  an  early  hour.  Lieut.  Snyder  and 
Capt.  Hartstene  now  returned,  accompanied  by  Commander 
Gillis,  commanding  the  Pocahontas  ;  and  about  the  same  time 
the  Charleston  steamer,  Isabel,  provided  by  the  military  authori- 
ties at  that  city  for  carrying  the  garrison  out  to  the  Baltic,  ap- 
proached the  fort. 

When  every  thing  was  in  readiness,  the  battle  torn  flag  which 
had  been  unfurled  over  Fort  Sumter  almost  four  months  before, 
with  prayers  for  the  protection  of  those  beneath  it,  was  raised 
above  the  ramparts,  and  the  cannon  commenced  saluting  it.  It 
was  Major  Anderson's  intention  to  fire  one  hundred  guns,  but  only 
fifty  were  discharged,  because  of  a  sad  accident.  Some  fixed  am- 
munition near  the  gun  was  ignited  and  the  explosion  instantly 
killed  private  David  Hough,  mortally  wounded  private  Edward 
Gallway,  and  injured  several  others.  The  Palmetto  guard, 
which  had  been  sent  over  from  Morris  island,  with  the  venera- 
ble Edmund  Ruffin  as  its  color  bearer,  entered  the  fort  when  the 
salute  was  ended,  and  after  the  garrison  had  departed,  and  buried 
the  dead  soldier  with  military  honors. 


1  At  Richmond,  Va.,  there  was  great  rejoicing  over  the  fall  of  Sumter,  100  guns 
were  fired.  Confederate  flags  were  everywhere  displayed,  while  music  and  illumina- 
tions were  the  order  of  the  evening.  Gov.  Letcher  was  serenaded,  and  addressed  the 
people. — Correspondent  N.  TT.  Herald,  April  14. 


340  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

When  the  flag  was  lowered,  at  the  close  of  the  salute,  the 
garrison,  in  full  dress,  left  the  fort  and  embarked  on  the  Isabel, 
the  band  playing  Yankee  Doodle.  When  Major  Anderson 
left  the  sally  port,  it  struck  up  Hail  to  the  Chief.  The  last 
to  retire  was  the  surgeon  who  attended  the  poor  wounded  sol- 
diers as  long  as  possible.  Soon  afterward  a  party  from  Charles- 
ton, composed  of  Gov.  Pickens  and  suite,  Gen.  Beauregard  and 
his  aids,  and  several  distinguished  citizens,  went  to  Fort  Sumter 
i  n  a  steamer,  took  formal  possession  of  it,  and  raised  the  Confede- 
rate and  Palmetto  flags.  It  was  evacuated,  not  surrendered.* 
The  sovereignty  of  the  republic  symbolized  by  the  flag,  had 
not  been  yielded  up.  That  flag  had  been  lowered,  but  not  given 
up  ;  dishonored,  but  not  captured.  It  was  borne  away  by  the 
gallant  commander,  with  a  resolution  to  raise  it  again  over  the 
battered  fortress,  or  be  wrapped  in  it  as  his  winding  sheet  at  last. 
Precisely  four  years  from  that  day  —  after  four  years  of  civil  war — 
Major  Anderson,  bearing  the  title  of  major  general  in  the  army 
of  the  United  States,  again  raised  this  tattered  flag  over  the  ruins 
of  Fort  Sumter,  whose  walls  had  meanwhile  been  shaken  and 
crumbled  by  the  union  batteries  arrayed  against  it. 

The  Isabel  lay  under  the  walls  of  the  fort,  waiting  for  a  favor- 
ing tide,  until  Monday  morning  when  she  conveyed  the  garrison 
to  the  Baltic.  Their  late  opponents,  impressed  with  the  gal- 
lantry of  their  defense,  stood  on  the  beach  with  uncovered  heads 
as  a  token  of  their  respect  as  the  vessel  passed.  When  all  the 
garrison  were  on  board  the  Baltic,  the  precious  flag  for  which 
they  had  fought  so  gallantly,  was  raised  to  the  masthead  and  sa- 
luted with  cheers,  and  by  the  guns  of  the  other  vessels  of  the 
relief  squadron.  It  was  again  raised  when  the  Baltic  entered  the 
harbor  of  New  York,  on  the  morning  of  the  i8th,  and  was 
greeted  by  salutes  from  the  forts  and  the  plaudits  of  thousands 
of  welcoming  spectators.2  Off  Sandy  Hook,  Major  Anderson 
wrote  the  following  brief  despatch  to  the  secretary  of  war  : 

lrThe  night  after  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Sumter,  Jeff.  Davis  and  his  cabinet  were 
serenaded  at  Montgomery  ;  and  his  secretary  of  war,  L.  P.  Walker  of  Alabama,  uttered 
these  words  :  "  No  man  could  tell  where  the  war  commenced  this  day  would  end, 
but  he  would  prophesy  that  the  flag  which  now  flaunts  the  breeze  here  would  float 
over  the  dome  of  the  old  Capitol  at  Washington  before  the  1st  of  May." 

3  A  correspondent  of  the  Army  and  Navy  Journal  who  wrote  from  Phila.,  Nov. 
21,  1863,  over  the  signature  C.,  says  that  with  the  boat's  crew  that  was  taken  in 
the  unsuccessful  assault  upon  Fort  Sumter  a  flag  was  captured,  which  Beauregard 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  341 

"  Having  defended  Fort  Sumter  for  thirty-four  hours,  until 
the  quarters  were  entirely  burned,  the  main  gates  destroyed  by 
fire,  the  gorge  wall  seriously  injured,  the  magazine  surrounded 
by  flames,  and  its  doors  closed  from  the  effects  of  heat,  four 
barrels  and  four  cartridges  of  powder  only  being  available,  and 
no  provisions  but  pork  remaining,  I  accepted  terms  of  evacua- 
tion offered  by  Gen.  Beauregard,  being  the  same  offered  by  him 
on  the  nth  inst.,  prior  to  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  and 
marched  out  of  the  fort,  Sunday  afternoon  the  I4th  inst.,  with 
colors  flying  and  drums  beating,  bringing  away  company  and 
private  property,  and  saluting  my  flag  with  fifty  guns." 

A  month  later  (May  14, 1 86 1),  Major  Anderson  was  honored 

and  his  confederates  received  with  unstifled  bursts  of  joy  supposing  it  to  be  the  flag 
which  Major  Anderson  lowered  with  a  salute  when  he  was  obliged  to  evacuate  the 
fort,  supposing  that  it  had  been  carried  by  the  storming  party  to  rehoist  in  triumph 
where  it  formerly  waved.  C.  says,  "  when  Anderson's  flag  was  lowered  at  Fort 
Sumter  our  Spartan  seventy  determined  to  cut  it  into  pieces,  and  keep  the  shreds  as 
mementos  of  their  martyrdom.  One  of  Anderson's  principal  officers,  who  is 
now  a  general,  was  at  my  house  just  after  his  return  from  Sumter  j  and  as  a  great 
favor,  after  telling  the  story,  gave  me  a  little  scrap  of  his  precious  piece,  which  lies 
before  me  as  I  write."  "  There  may  be,"  he  adds,  "  and  usually  are  two  flags  at  a  fort  j 
one  for  fair  weather,  and  one  for  storms ;  but  only  one  flag  was  hoisted  during  the 
bombardment ;  only  one  braved  the  battle  and  the  breeze ;  only  one  can  claim  to  be 
the  flag  of  Fort  Sumter.  That  flag  exists  only  in  the  little  carefully  hoarded  bits  of 
bunting,  and  in  the  affections  of  all  loyal  Americans." — Army  and  Navy  Journal, 
Nov.  28,  1863. 

Another  correspondent,  H.,  dating  from  Washington,  Dec.  1st,  1863,  says,  "I 
have  in  my  possession  a  well  worn  piece  of  bunting  which  was  presented  to  me  with 
the  following  letter  :  *  This  is  a  piece  of  the  original  Fort  Sumter  flag  flying  at  the 
time  of  the  bombardment,  in  April,  1861.  It  was  presented  by  Gen.  Anderson  to 
Major  General  Sumner,  who  carried  it  through  the  Peninsular  campaign,  and  at  the 
battle  of  Antietam  and  South  Mountain  as  his  head  quarters  flag.  On  his  leaving  the 
army  of  the  Potomac  it  was  obtained  by  a  friend  of  mine  from  whom  I  procured  this 
piece.'  Perhaps  this  was  from  flag  No.  2,  to  which  your  correspondent  [C.]  refers." 
Army  and  Navy  Journal,  Dec.  5,  1863. 

Another  correspondent  who  signs  himself  B.,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  7,  1863, 
says  :  "  I  would  like  to  state  that  I  have  in  my  possession  a  piece  of  the  flag,  pre- 
sented to  me  by  the  general  himself,  with  the  following  endorsement.  '  In  com- 
pliance with  the  request  contained  in  Mr. 's  note,  of inst.,  General 

Anderson  takes  pleasure  in  sending  him  a  small  piece  of  the  Fort  Sumter  flag. 

« NEWPORT,  R.  I.,  Oct.  16,  186.* 

Perhaps  C.  could  tell  whether  this  is  a  portion  of  flag  No.  one  or  No.  Pwo."  Army 
and  Navy  Journal,  Dec.  19,  1863. 

Still  another  correspondent,  S.,  [Gen.  Truman  Seymour,]  dating  from  Folly  island, 
S.  C.,  Dec.  3,  1863,  says:  C.,  is  certainly  in  error,  arising  doubtless  from  a  mis- 
understanding of  the  information  given  ;  "  shreds  were  certainly  cut  from  the  flag  as 
most  precious  memorials,  but  they  were  only  shreds  and  did  not  materially  affect  its 
size  or  condition.  After  being  lowered  at  Sumter  the  flag  was  hoisted  on  the  Baltic, 
which  steamer  transferred  Anderson  and  his  command  to  the  North,  it  was  displayed 
at  the  great  demonstration  in  Union  square  soon  afterwards,  and  is  now  safely  depo- 
sited in  New  York." —  Army  and  Navy  Journal,  Dec.  19,  1863. 


342  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

by  the  president  of  the  United  States  with  the  rank  of  brigadier 
general  in  appreciation  of  his  distinguished  services,  and  at  the 
request  of  leading  Kentuckians  was  appointed  to  a  command  in 
that  state ;  but  his  terrible  experience  in  Fort  Sumter  had  pros- 
trated his  nervous  system,  and  he  was  compelled  to  abandon 
active  service.  He  was  placed  upon  the  retired  list  in  the  au- 
tumn of  1863,  and  the  following  year  he  was  brevetted  major 
general. 

After  the  war  Gen.  Andeison  removed  with  his  family  to  Eu- 
rope where  he  died  October,  1871.*  His  remains  were  brought  to 
the  United  States  in  the  steam  frigate  Guerriere,  and  arrived  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  Feb.  4,  1872,  were  thence  conveyed  to 
New  York,  and  finally  with  the  old  battle  flag  of  Sumter  waving 
over  them  reached  their  last  and  appropriate  resting  place  at 
West  Point,  April  3,  1872. 

On  Saturday  the  i8th  of  February,  1865,  precisely  four  years 
after  the  inauguration  of  JEFFERSON  DAVIS  at  Montgomery 
as  "  provisional  president  of  the  southern  confederacy,"  the  first 

1  Gen.  Anderson's  funeral  took  place  at  Nice,  October  aSth,  1872.  The  following 
account  of  it  is  taken  from  a  city  newspaper  //  Pensiero  di  Niz-za  of  Tuesday,  Oct.  31. 

"  The  noble  simplicity  of  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Anderson,  the  American  general, 
which  took  place  last  Saturday,  must  furnish  a  valuable  lesson  to  us.  Fife  and  drum 
preceded  the  mourning  concourse,  because  those  two  warlike  musical  instruments 
were  the  ones  which  marshalled  the  Americans  to  victory  or  death  in  their  long 
struggle  with  the  English,  to  drive  them  from  their  country  and  establish  their  inde- 
pendence. There  was  no  funeral  drapery  around  the  coffin,  because  the  Americans 
do  not  consider  death  a  calamity,  but,  as  a  law  of  nature,  as  the  repose  of  life,  just  as 
night  is  the  repose  of  the  day.  There  was  no  hearse,  because  the  Americans  desire 
their  remains  to  be  borne  to  the  grave  by  their  own  countrymen.  There  were  no 
torches  lighted,  becaule  Americans  regard  this  ceremony  as  a  mere  matter  of  busi- 
ness. The  great  light  of  day  is  enough  for  them,  as  they  consider  it  the  emblem  of 
the  soul's  life  after  death.  The  coffin  was  covered  with  their  national  flag,  because 
Americans  who  were  proud  to  honor  it  in  their  lifetime  have  the  privilege  to  envelope 
themselves  in  it  when  carried  to  the  grave.  Noble  flag  !  whose  stars  represent  so 
many  republics  which  shall  hereafter  be  the  honor  of  humanity  !  Whose  eagle  is 
not  represented  as  pluming  its  moulted  wings,  but  whose  eyes  are  fixed  on  the  sun, 
whose  wings  are  spread,  ready  to  start  to  the  highest  region  of  progress  and  prosperity  ! 
There  was  no  display  of  ribbons,  medals  or  decorations  of  honor,  because  Americans 
live  and  die  for  their  country,  not  for  showy  distinctions,  but  as  a  matter  of  duty  j 
they  know  no  other  distinctions  save  virtue  and  patriotism.  The  uniform  of  officers 
and  soldiers  was  simple  and  decorous  ;  their  silent  and  grave  bearing  exhibited  their 
respect  and  regret  for  the  honored  dead  and  his  family.  Their  mourning  was  not  af- 
fected, and  one  might  see  that  sorrow  was  in  their  hearts.  They  were  true  citizens 
accompanying  to  his  eternal  abode  their  worthy  fellow  countryman,  General  Ander- 
son. Spectators  were  penetrated  with  a  feeling  of  religious  sympathy.  What  a  con- 
trast between  this  funeral  and  those  of  European  personages  who  have  died  at  Nice  ! 
Immense  proceessions  were  then  composed  almost  of  hirelings,  people  obliged  to  assist. 
Those  who  have  attended  the  funeral  of  General  Anderson  will  not  readily  have  the 
remembrance  of  that  ceremony  effaced  from  their  memories." 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  343 

warlike  act  which  followed  that  assumption  of  authority  was 
avenged  at  the  place  where  the  flag  of  the  United  States  was 
lowered  by  its  own  soldiers,  to  the  maddened  instruments  of  the 
rebellion.  About  the  same  hour  of  the  day  that  the  flag  floated 
over  the  Capitol  at  Montgomery  in  rejoicing  at  the  birth  of  a  new 
political  monster,  the  stars  and  stripes  were  reraised  over  the 
first  of"  the  forts  and  places  captured  by  actual  warfare.  There 
was  something  very  significant  in  this  coincidence.  Four  years 
before  the  rebellion  had  commenced  its  cruel  experiment  in  pride, 
confidence  and  defiance.  The  dearest  spot  in  all  its  territories, 
the  retention  of  which  was  its  highest  hope  and  effort,  was  the 
pestilential  city  in  which  the  idea  of  secession  and  ruin  had  been 
nursed  for  thirty  years,  and  from  which  the  frenzy  stole  out  like 
malaria,  until  it  enveloped  the  whole  south."1 

This,  the  first  union  flag  to  float  over  Sumter  after  its  evacu- 
ation by  Major  Anderson,  was  raised  by  Capt.  Henry  M.  Bragg, 
A.  D.  C.  to  Major  General  Gilmore.  It  had  for  a  staff  an  oar 
and  a  boat  hook  lashed  together.2 

On  the  anniversary  of  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Sumter  four  years 
before,  and  a  few  weeks  after  the  fall  of  Charleston,  the  identical 
flag  then  borne  away  by  Major  Anderson,  and  which  had  been 
carefully  preserved  in  the  vaults  of  the  Metropolitan  Bank  N.  Y. 
was  by  the  president's  appointment  again  flung  to  the  breeze 
over  that  fortress,  which  from  the  bombardments  it  had  re- 
ceived from  both  parties  in  the  contest  was  reduced  to  a  heap 
of  ruins. 

The  following  are  the  official  orders,  directing  the  reraising 
of  our  flag  over  its  battered  rampart. 

War  Department,  Adjt.  Genl's  Office, 

Washington,  March  27,  1365. 

GENERAL  ORDERS,  No  50.  Ordered,  First.  That  at  the 
hour  of  noon  on  the  I4th  day  of  July,  1865,  Brevet  Major 
General  Anderson,  will  raise  and  plant  upon  the  ruins  of  Fort 
Sumter,  in  Charleston  Harbor,  the  same  United  States  flag,  that 
floated  over  the  battlements  of  that  fort  during  the  rebel  assault, 

1  JV.  Y.  Tribune  Wednesday,  Feb.  aa,  1865. 

2  Lossing  says  :  Major  J.  A.  Hennesy  was  immediately  sent  to  raise  the  national 
flag  over  the  ruins  of  Sumter,  at  9  A.  M.  February  i8th.      History  of  the  Civil  War 
vol.  in.  page  464. 


344  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

and  which  was  lowered  and  saluted  by  him  and  the  small  force 
of  his  command  when  the  works  were  evacuated  on  the  1410 
day  of  April,  1861. 

Second.  That  the  flag,  when  raised,  be  saluted  by  one  hundred 
guns  from  Fort  Sumter,  and  by  a  national  salute  from  every  fort 
and  rebel  battery  that  fired  upon  Fort  Sumter. 

Third.  That  suitable  ceremonies  be  had  upon  the  occasion 
under  the  direction  of  Major  General  William  T.  Sherman, 
whose  military  operations  compelled  the  rebels  to  evacuate 
Charleston,  or  in  his  absence  under  the  charge  of  Major  Gene- 
ral Q.  A.  Gillmore,  commanding  the  department.  Among  the 
ceremonies  will  be  the  delivery  of  a  public  address  by  the  Rev. 
Henry  Ward  Beecher. 

Fourth.  That  the  naval  forces  at  Charleston,  and  their  com- 
mander on  that  station,  be  invited  to  participate  in  the  ceremo- 
nies of  the  occasion. 

By  order  of  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
EDWIN  M.  STANTON, 

Secretary  of  War. 
Official, 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND. 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


In  response  to  the  invitations  extended  to  him  by  the  presi- 
dent and  secretary  of  war,  Rear  Admiral  Dahlgren  issued  the 
following  order  : 

Flagship,  Philadelphia, 
Charleston  Harbor,  S.  C., 

April  5th,  1865. 

GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  32.  By  order  of  his  excellency,  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  the  flag  of  the  union  that  was  hauled  down  at 
Fort  Sumter  on  the  I4th  of  April,  1861,  is  to  be  restored  to  its 
place  by  Major  General  Anderson,  on  the  next  anniversary  of 
that  event. 

The  naval  forces  at  Charleston,  and  myself  are  invited  to 
participate. 

Conformably  to  the  above,  the  United  States  vessels  Paw- 
nee, Tuscarora,  Sonoma,  Passaic,  Kaatskill,  Adams,  and  such 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  345 

others  as  can  be  spared,  will  take  position  as  hereafter  directed 
near  Fort  Sumter,  by  six  o'clock  the  morning  of  the  i~4th. 

As  soon  as  the  ceremony  begins  in  the  fort,  each  vessel  will 
dress  full,  in  colors. 

When  the  flag  is  hoisted  on  Sumter,  each  vessel  will  man 
yards,  or  rigging  if  without  yards,  and  give  three  cheers  ;  then 
lay  in  and  down,  which  having  been  done,  each  vessel  will  fire 
a  salute  of  one  hundred  guns,  beginning  with  the  senior  ship's 
first  gun,  and  not  continuing  after  her  last  gun. 

A  body  of  seamen  and  marines  will  be  landed  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  Commander  Williams  who  is  the  only 
officer  present  of  those  who  led  the  assault  on  Sumter,  which  I 
ordered  September  9,  1863,  and  will  therefore  represent  the 
officers  and  men  of  that  column. 

The  various  details  will  be  regulated  by  Fleet  Captain  Brad- 
ford. 

All  the  officers  of  the  squadron  who  can  be  spared  from 
duty  are  invited  to  be  present  and  to  accompany  me  to  the  fort 
on  that  occasion, 

JOHN  A.  DAHLGREN, 
Commanding  South  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron. 


Pertinent  to  the  occasion  is  the  following  order  issued  by  the 
brigadier  in  command  at  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

Headquarters,  District  of  Wilmington, 

Wilmington,  N.  C.,  April  u,  1865. 

Three  years  ago  this  day,  a  portion  of  the  troops  of  this  com- 
mand took  possession  of  Fort  Pulaski.  Here  also  are  men  who 
were  engaged  in  the  capture  of  Forts  Wagner  and  Fisher,  and 
the  siege  of  Sumter.  To  them  the  brigadier  general  command- 
ing takes  great  pleasure  in  publishing  the  following  despatch  re- 
ceived by  him  from  Major  General  Schofield,  commanding  the 
department. 

It  having  been  reported  at  their  headquarters  that  a  salute   of 
one  hundred   guns,  was  fired  at   Wilmington  on   the    I4th    of 
April,  1 86 1,  in  honor  of  the  fall   of  Fort  Sumter,  the  com- 
manding general  directs  that  you  will  cause  a  salute  of  one  hun- 
44 


316  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

dred  guns,  to  be  fired  on  the  I4th  of  the  present  month,  from 
rebel  guns,  and  with  rebel  ammunition  in  honor  of  the  restora- 
tion of  the  stars  and  stripes  over  the  same  fort. 

Captain  A.  C.  Harvey,  is  charged  with  the  execution  of  the 
order,  and  he  will  consult  with  Lieutenant  R.  Williams,  depot 
ordinance  officer,  as  to  the  selection  of  guns  and  ammunition. 

By  order  of  Brigadier  General  HAWLEY. 
E.  LEWIS  MOORE, 

Captain  and  A.  A.  G. 

Though  the  day  selected  coincided  with  the  Christian  festival 
of  Good  Friday,  it  could  not  change  the  proper  and  official  date 
of  the  event  to  be  commemorated,  nor  was  the  celebration  in 
any  manner  discordant  with  the  solemn  religious  meditations 
which  Good  Friday  provokes  in  the  minds  of  so  many  Christians. 

A  large  number  of  citizens  went  from  the  city  of  New  York 
in  the  steamers  Arago  and  Oceanus  to  assist  in  the  ceremonies. 
Colonel  Stewart  L.  Woodfordofthe  rayth  New  York  regiment, 
who,  on  the  evacuation  of  Charleston,  was  appointed  its  military 
governor,  had  special  charge  of  the  exercises  at  the  fort.  When 
the  multitude  were  assembled  around  the  flagstaff  William  B. 
Bradbury  led  them  in  singing  his  song  of  Victory  at  Last,  followed 
by  Rally  Round  the  Flag  Boys.  The  Reverend  Matthew  Harris, 
chaplain  United  States  army,  who  made  the  prayer  at  the  raising 
of  the  flag  over  Sumter,  December  27,  1860,  now  offered  an 
introductory  prayer,  and  pronounced  a  blessing  on  the  old  flag. 
Doctor  R.  S.  Storrs,  of  Brooklyn,  read  selections  from  the 
Psalms.  Then  General  Townsend,  assistant  adjutant  general  of 
the  United  States  army,  read  Major  Anderson's  dispatch  of  April 
18,  1861,  announcing  the  fall  of  Sumter.  This  was  followed 
by  the  appearance  of  sergeant  Hart  with  a  bag  containing  the 
precious  old  flag.  It  was  attached  to  the  halliards,  when  General 
Anderson,  after  a  brief  and  touching  address,  hoisted  it  to  the  peak 
of  the  flagstaff,  amid  loud  huzzas,  which  were  followed  by 
singing  the  Star  Spangled  Banner.*  Then  six  guns  on  the  fort 
opened  their  loud  voices,  and  were  responded  to  by  all  the  guns 
from  all  the  batteries  around  which  took  part  in  the  bombard- 

1  For  the  songs  mentioned  see  appendix. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  347 

ment  of  the  fort  in  1861.     When  all  became  silent,  the  Rev. 
Henry  Ward  Beecher,  the  chosen  orator  for  the  occasion,  pro- 


Repossession  of  Fort  Sumter. 

nounced  an  eloquent  address.  A  benediction  closed  the  ceremo- 
nies, and  thus  it  was  that  Fort  Sumter  was  formally  repossessed 
by  the  government. 

Mr.  Lossing  states  as  a  curious  fact,  derived  from  an  old  re- 
sident of  Charleston,  that  not  one  of  the  Palmetto  Guards^  of 
which  Edmund  Ruffin  was  a  volunteer,  who  fired  upon  Fort 
Sumter,  and  who  first  entered  into  possession  of  it  in  1861,  was 
living  at  the  close  of  1865,  or  six  months  after  the  war  closed.1 


1  Lossing' i  Civil  War  vol.  in,  page  482. 


348  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


LOYAL  FLAG  RAISINGS,  FOLLOWING  THE  FALL  OF 
FORT  SUMTER.   1862. 

"  Let  the  Flag  of  our  Country  wave  from  the  spire  of  every  church  in  the  land, 
with  nothing  above  it  but  the  cross  of  Christ." — Rev.  E.  A.  Anderson. 

"  Oh,  raise  that  glorious  ensign  high, 

And  let  the  nations  see 
The  flag  for  which  our  fathers  fought 

To  make  our  country  free  ! 
Their  sons  beneath  its  ample  folds, 

With  loyal  hearts,  and  true, 
May  well  maintain  the  Stars  and  Stripes 

The  Red,  White,  and  the  Blue. 

"  From  every  hill,  in  every  vale, 

Where  freemen  tread  the  sod, 
And  from  the  spires  where  freemen  meet 

For  prayer  and  praise  to  God  ; 
Unfurl  the  Flag  beneath  but  this, 

The  cross  of  Calvary  !  "-W. 

The  fall  of  Sumter  created  great  enthusiasm  throughout  the 
loyal  states,  for  the  flag  had  come  to  have  a  new  and  strange 
significance.  When  the  stars  and  stripes  went  down  at 
Sumter  they  went  up  in  every  town  and  county  in  the  loyal 
states.  Every  city,  town  and  village  suddenly  blossomed  with 
banners.  On  forts  and  ships,  from  church  spires,  and  flagstaff's, 
from  colleges,  hotels,  store  fronts,  and  private  balconies,  from 
public  edifices,  everywhere  the  old  flag  was  flung  out  and  every- 
where it  w~as  hailed  with  enthusiasm  ;  for  its  prose  became 
poetry,  and  there  was  seen  in  it  a  sacred  value  which  it  had 
never  before  possessed.1  "  Woe  betide  the  unfortunate  house- 
holder," said  a  correspondent  to  the  Charleston  News?  "  where 
colors  are  wanting  when  called  for.  Every  window  shutter  is 
tied  with  the  inevitable  red,  white  and  blue,  and  dogs,  even,  are 
wrapped  in  the  star  spangled  banner.  There  is  hardly  a  house  in 
Philadelphia  from  which  the  triune  colors  are  not  now  floating." 

The  demand  for  flags  was  so  great  that  the  manufacturers  could 
not  furnish  them  fast  enough.  Bunting  was  exhausted,  and  re- 


1  Morris  and  Croffet's  Mil.  and  Civil  History  of  Conn.t  1861-65,  p.  55. 

2  Charleston  News,  May  3d. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  349 

course  was  had  to  all  sorts  of  substitutes.  Loyal  women  wore 
miniature  banners  in  their  bonnets  and  with  untiring  ingenuity 
blended  the  colors  with  almost  every  article  of  dress  ;  and  men 
carried  the  emblem  on  breast  pins  and  countless  other  devices.  The 
patchwork  of  red,  white  and  blue,  which  had  flaunted  in  their  faces 
for  generations  without  exciting  much  emotion,  in  a  single  day 
stirred  the  pulses  of  the  people  with  an  imperative  call  to  battle, 
and  became  the  inspiration  of  national  effort.  All  at  once  the 
dear  and  old  flag,  meant  the  declaration  of  independence  ;  it 
meant  Lexington ;  it  meant  Bunker  Hill  and  Saratoga  (although 
only  in  the  last  named  battle  had  it  been  used) ;  it  meant  freedom  ; 
it  meant  the  honor  and  life  of  the  republic ;  and  a  great  crop  of 
splendid  banners  came  with  the  spring  roses.  Tens  of  thou- 
sands of  youths  donned  the  blue  uniform  at  the  call  of  the  presi- 
dent, and  advanced  in  line  of  battle,  impelled  not  more  by  a 
conscious  hatred  of  treason,  than  by  the  wonderful  glory  that  had 
been  kindled  in  the  flag.1  The  president's  proclamation  calling 
for  75,000  men  to  rally  to  the  protection  of  the  flag  and  the 
union  (double  the  number  certainly  that  had  ever  been  as- 
sembled at  one  time  under  our  banner),  was  addressed  to  the 
governors  of  all  the  states  on  the  receipt  of  the  news.  As  was 
to  be  expected,  the  answers  from  the  slave  states  were  in  terms 
of  treason,  defiance  and  contempt ;  the  responses  from  the  free 
states  were  unanimous,  full  and  complete,  and  so  instantaneous 
that  the  proclamation  seemed  adopted  by  acclamation.  Before 
a  day  had  passed  it  was  manifest  that  more  than  twice  the 
number  called  for  was  ready  at  his  command. 

The  flag  of  the  republic,  how  dear  to  those  who  were  true  to 
it  they  never  knew  till  then,  was  raised  on  that  Monday  morn- 
ing after  Sumter,  by  spontaneous  impulse,  upon  every  staff"  which 
stood  on  loyal  ground  ;  and  from  the  lakes  to  the  Potomac, 
from  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic  to  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi, 
the  eye  could  hardly  turn  without  meeting  the  bright  banner 
which  symbolized  in  its  stripes  the  union  and  the  initial  strug- 
gle, and,  in  its  stars  the  consequent  growth  and  glory  of  the 
nation  and  the  government  which  the  insurgents  had  banded 
themselves  together  to  destroy.2 

1  Military  and  Civil  History  of  Connecticut.  1861—65. 

2  Harper's  History  of  the  great  Rebellion. 


350  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  following,  one  of  many  similar  songs,  will  show  the  spirit 
of  the  times. 

OUR  STAR-GEMMED  BANNER. 


God  bless  our  star-gemmed  banner,  shake  its  folds  out  to  the  breeze, 
From  church,  from  fort,  from  house-top,  o'er  the  city,  on  the  seas ; 
The  die  is  cast,  the  storm  at  last  has  broken  in  its  might  ; 
Unfurl  the  starry  banner,  and  may  God  defend  the  right. 

Too  long  our  flag  has  sheltered  rebel  heart,  and  stormy  will  ; 

Too  long  has  nursed  the  traitor  who  has  worked  to  do  it  ill  ; 

That  time  is  past,  the  thrilling  blast  of  war  is  heard  at  length 

And  the  north  pours  forth  her  legions  that  have  slumbered  in  their  strength. 

They  have  roused  them  to  the  danger,  armed  and  ready,  forth  they  stand, 
A  hundred  thousand  volunteers,  each  with  weapon  in  his  hand  ; 
They  rally  round  that  banner,  they  obey  their  country's  call, 
The  spirit  of  the  North  is  up,  and  thrilling  one  and  all. 

'Tis  the  flag  our  sires  and  grandsires  honored  to  their  latest  breath, 
To  us  'tis  given  to  hold  unstained,  to  guard  in  life  and  death ; 
Time-honored,  from  its  stately  folds  who  has  dared  to  strike  a  star 
That  glittered  on  its  field  of  blue ;  —  who  but  traitors  as  they  are. 

Would  to  God  it  waved  above  us,  with  a  foreign  foe  to  quell, 
Not  o'er  brother  faced  to  brother,  urging  steel,  and  shot  and  shell  ; 
But  no  more  the  choice  is  left  us,  for  our  friendly  hand  they  spurn, 
We  can  only  meet  as  foemen  —  sad,  but  resolute  and  stern. 

Father  dash  aside  the  tear-drop,  let  thy  proud  boy  go  his  way, 
Mother  —  twine  thine  arms  about  him,  and  bless  thy  son  this  day, 
Sister  —  weep,  but  yet  look  proudly,  tis  a  time  to  do  or  die  ; 
Maiden  —  clasp  thy  lover  tenderly,  as  he  whispers  thee  good  bye  : 

Onward,  onward  to  the  battle,  who  can  doubt  which  side  shall  win  ! 
Right  and  might  both  guide  our  squadrons,  and  the  steadfast  hearts  within  • 
Shall  the  men  who  never  quailed  before,  now  falter  in  the  field  ; 
Or  the  men  who  fought  at  Bunker  Hill  be  ever  made  to  yield  ? 

Then  bless  our  banner,  God  of  hosts !  watch  o'er  each  starry  fold, 
'Tis  Freedom's  standard,  tried  and  proved  on  many  a  field  of  old  ; 
And  thou,  who  long  hast  blessed  us,  now  bless  us  yet  again, 
And  crown  our  cause  with  victory,  and  keep  our  flag  from  stain. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  351 

Accounts  of  a  few  of  the  flag  raisings  that  followed  the  fall 
of  Sumter,  culled  from  the  newspapers  of  the  day,  will  convey  an 
idea  of  this  patriotic  outburst  of  the  people,  and  the  loyalty  and 
devotion,  which  at  once  gathered  around  the  chosen  symbol 
of  our  union. 

April  20,  1 86 1.  A  monster  meeting  of  men  of  all  political 
and  religious  creeds,  gathered  around  the  statue  of  Washing- 
ton in  Union  Square  New  York,  imbued  with  the  sentiment  of 
Jackson,  "  the  union  it  must  and  shall  be  preserved."  Places  of 
business  were  closed  that  all  might  participate  in  its  proceedings. 
It  was  estimated,  that  at  least  one  hundred  thousand  persons 
were  in  attendance  during  the  afternoon.  Four  stands  were 
erected  at  points  equidistant  around  Union  Square ;  and  the 
soiled  and  tattered  flag  that  Anderson  brought  away  from  Fort 
Sumter,  mounted  on  a  fragment  of  the  staff,  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  the  equestrian  statue  of  Washington.  Hon.  John 
A.  Dix,  a  lifelong  democrat  and  recently  a  member  of  Buchan- 
an's cabinet,  presided  at  the  principal  stand  near  the  statue  of 
Washington,  and  Hon.  Hamilton  Fish,  since  Hon.  Wm.  T.  Ha- 
vemeyer,  and  Hon.  Moses  H.  Grinnell,  presided  at  the  other. 
A  full  account  of  this  meeting  and  report  of  the  speeches  can  be 
found  in  the  Rebellion  Record.  The  meeting  was  opened  with 
a  prayer  by  the  venerable  Gardner  Spring,  D.D.  Senator 
Baker  of  Oregon,  afterwards  killed  at  Balls  Bluff,  in  concluding 
his  remarks  said  "  upon  the  wings  of  the  lightning  it  goes  out 
throughout  the  world  that  New  York,  by  one  hundred  thousand 
of  her  people  declares  to  the  country  and  to  the  world  that  she 
will  sustain  the  government  to  the  last  dollar  in  her  treasury,  to 
the  last  drop  of  your  blood.  The  national  banners  leaning 
from  ten  thousand  windows  in  your  city  to  day,  proclaim  your 
affection  and  reverence  for  the  union." 

For  many  months  after  this  great  meeting,  and  others  of  its 
kind  in  the  cities  and  villages  of  the  land,  the  government  had 
few  obstacles  thrown  in  its  way  by  political  opponents ;  and  the 
sword  and  the  purse  were  placed  at  its  disposal  by  the  people, 
with  a  faith  touchingly  sublime.1 

Jpril  24,  1 86 1.  A  thirty  foot  flag  was  flung  to  the  breeze 
from  the  store  of  A.  Morton,  25  Maiden  Lane.  It  was  made 


1  Lansing's  Civil  War  and  the  Rebellion  Record. 


352  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

by  the  family  of  the  Hon.  O.  Newcomb  who  volunteered 
their  services,  as  the  unprecedented  demand  rendered  it  impossi- 
ble for  the  manufacturers  to  get  one  up  in  less  than  ten  days. 
Four  generations  assisted  in  its  construction.  One  of  the  ladies 
though  but  sixty- seven  years  of  age  was  a  great  grandmother. 
As  she  plied  the  needle  with  her  not  infirm  hands,  tears  fell 
copiously  on  the  bunting  as  she  recounted  her  many  reminiscences 
of  Washington,  and  her  vivid  recollections  of  the  war  of  1812. 
The  crowd  assembled  to  witness  the  raising  dispersed  with  nine 
cheers  for  the  stars  and  stripes  and  nine  more  for  the  patriotic 
ladies  who  made  the  flag.1 

April  2yth.  The  vestry  of  Grace  church,  New  York,  desired 
that  an  American  flag  should  wave  from  the  apex  of  the  spire 
of  the  church  at  the  height  of  260  feet.  Several  persons  under- 
took the  dangerous  feat,  but  on  mounting  to  the  highest  window 
in  the  steeple  had  not  sufficient  nerve.  At  last  two  young 
painters  named  O'Donnel  and  McLaughlin  decided  to  make 
the  attempt.  Getting  out  of  the  little  diamond  shaped  window 
about  half  way  up,  they  climbed  the  lightning  rod  to  the  top. 
Here  one  of  them  fastened  the  pole  securely  to  the  cross  although 
quite  a  gale  was  blowing.  The  flag  secured,  the  daring  young 
man  mounted  the  cross  and  taking  off  his  hat  bowed  to  the 
immense  crowd  watching  him  from  Broadway.  As  the  flag 
floated  out  freely  in  the  air  it  was  hailed  with  loud  and  repeated 
cheers.2  "The  historian  of  the  day"  said  a  paper  which  ad- 
vocated secession,3  u  will  not  fail  to  mention  for  the  edification  of 
the  men  of  future  ages,  the  fact  that  the  flag  which  was  once  the 
flag  of  our  union  floats  boldly  to  the  breeze  of  heaven  above  the 
cross  of  Christ  on  Grace  Church  steeple." 

Eight  days  earlier  (April  19),  an  American  flag,  forty  by  twenty 
feet,  had  been  flung  out  upon  a  flagstaff  from  a  window  in  Trinity 
Church  steeple  at  the  head  of  Wall  street  New  York,  at  a  height 
of  240  feet.  At  its  raising  the  chimes  in  the  tower  played  Yankee 
Doodle,  Red  White  and  Blue,  and  other  appropriate  airs,  winding 
up  with  All's  Well/ 

April  23^.  Father  Rapine,  a  priest  of  the  Montrose  Catholic 
church  at  Williamsburgh,  with  his  own  hands  raised  an  American 


1  New  York  Times,  April,  27.  2  Neiv  York  News. 

3  Neiv  York  Commercial  Advertiser.  4  Neiv  "York  Tribune. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  353 

flag  on  top  of  his  church.  Two  thousand  people,  who  had  assem- 
bled, greeted  the  glorious  emblem  with  cheer  upon  cheer  as  it 
waved  majestically  over  the  sacred  edifice.1 

An  American  flag  was  raised  upon  the  steeple  of  the  North 
Dutch  Church  at  New  York,  and  nearly  every  church  edifice 
and  public  building  in  the  city  is  decorated  in  the  same  manner.2 

April  2%tb.  Doctor  Weston,  the  chaplain  of  the  yth  New  York 
regiment,  preached  in  the  hall  of  the  house  of  representatives 
at  Washington  with  his  desk  tapestried  with  the  American  flag. 

Doctor  Bethune,  at  the  raising  of  a  flag  over  the  University  of 
New  York,  remarked :  "  The  bravery  shown  by  the  three  hundred 
Spartans  at  the  pass  of  Thermopylae  was  well  known,  but  there 
still  was  one  coward  among  them.  There  was  no  coward  among 
the  men  at  Sumter.  He  had  been  present  where  a  gentleman 
remarked  he  regretted  that  the  major  had  not  blown  up  the  fort. 
Major  Anderson  replied  it  was  better  as  it  was.  The  ruined  battle- 
ments and  battle-scarred  walls  of  Sumter  would  be  an  everlasting 
disgrace  to  South  Carolina." 

A  flagstaff  with  a  flag  was  run  out  of  a  window  over  the  portico 
of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Broadway,  New  York.  The  enthusiasm 
of  the  crowd  that  assembled  spontaneously  was  immense. 

An  American  flag  was  displayed  from  the  tower  of  the  first 
Baptist  Church,  Broome  street,  New  York,  with  appropriate  cere- 
monies, a  large  concourse  listened  to  stirring  speeches  from  Presi- 
dent Eaton  of  Madison  University,  the  Rev.  Doctor  Armitage, 
Rev.  Mr.  Webber  of  Rochester,  and  others. 

Members  of  the  Brown  high  school  of  Newburyport  raised  an 
American  flag  near  their  school  building  in  the  presence  of  a  large 
concourse  of  citizens,  and  speeches  were  made  by  the  Hon. 
Caleb  Gushing  and  others. 

April  2Jth.  The  Hon.  Edward  Everett  delivered  an  eloquent 
speech  at  a  flag  raising  in  Chester  square,  Boston.  "  We  set  up 
this  standard"  he  said,  "not  as  a  matter  of  display  ;  but  as  an 
expressive  indication  that  in  the  mighty  struggle  which  has  been 
forced  upon  us,  we  are  of  one  heart  and  one  mind,  that  the 
government  of  the  country  must  be  sustained.  * 


York  Tribune.  *  Commercial  Advertiser. 

45 


354  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

"  Why  is  it,"  he  continued"  that  the  flag  of  the  country  always 
honored,  alwaysbeloved,  is  now  at  once  worshiped,  I  may  say,  with 
the  passionate  homage  of  this  whole  people  ?  Why  does  it  float  as 
never  before,  not  merely  from  arsenal  and  masthead,  but  from 
tower  and  steeple,  from  the  public  edifices,  the  temples  of  science, 
the  private  dwellings,  in  magnificent  display  of  miniature  presenti- 
ment ?  Let  Fort  Sumter  give  the  answer.  When  on  this  day  fort- 
night, the  1 3th  of  April  (a  day  forever  to  be  held  in  auspicious 
remembrance  like  the  dies  alliensis  in  the  annals  of  Rome),  the 
tidings  spread  through  the  land  that  the  standard  of  united  America, 
the  pledge  of  her  union,  and  the  symbol  of  her  power,  for  which  so 
many  gallant  hearts  had  poured  out  their  life's  blood  on  the  ocean 
and  the  land  to  uphold,  had,  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  been  for  a 
day  and  a  half  the  target  of  eleven  fratricidal  batteries,  one  deep, 
unanimous,  spontaneous  feeling  shot  with  the  tidings  through  the 
breasts  of  twenty  millions  of  freemen  that  its  outraged  honor  must 
be  vindicated."  x 

Cincinnati,  after  the  fall  of  Sumter,  was  fairly  iridescent  with 
the  red  white  and  blue.  From  the  point  of  the  spire  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Cathedral  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  in 
the  air,  Archbishop  Purcell  caused  a  well  proportioned  national  flag 
ninety  feet  in  length  to  be  unfurled  with  imposing  ceremonies, 
which,  wrote  the  archbishop  to  Mr.  Lossing,  "  consisted  of  the 
hurrahs,  the  tears  of  hope  and  joy,  the  prayer  for  success  from 
the  blessing  of  God  on  our  cause  and  army  by  our  Catholic  people 
and  our  fellow  citizens  of  all  denominations,  who  saluted  the 
flag  with  salvos  of  artillery.  The  flag  was  really  ninety  feet 
long  and  broad  in  proportion.  One  of  less  dimensions  would 
not  have  satisfied  the  enthusiasm  of  our  people." 

The  Queen  city  gave  ample  tokens  that  the  mighty  north 
west  was  fully  aroused  to  the  perils  that  threatened  the  republic 
and  was  determined  to  defend  it  at  all  hazards.2 

At  Roxbury,  Mass.,  a  beautiful  silk  flag  was  presented  by  the 
ladies  of  the  city  to  Capt.  Chamberlain's  company,  and  a  pre- 
sentation address  was  made  by  Rev.  Doctor  Putnam  of  the 
Unitarian  church.  After  which  the  flag  was  placed  in  Captain 
Chamberlain's  hands  by  a  little  girl  tastefully  dressed  in  white, 

1  Boston  Transcript.  a  Lossing's  Civil  War. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  355 

trimmed  with  red  and  blue.  The  captain  knelt  as  he  received 
the  flag  and  responded  briefly  with  a  voice  choked  with  emotion.1 

May  ist.  Lieut.  Collier  of  the  United  States  marines  attached 
to  the  steam  frigate  Minnesota  raised  the  American  flag  on  the 
steeple  of  the  old  South  Church,  Boston,  Mass. 

June  28  1 86 1.  A  flag  was  raised  upon  a  flag  staff  on  North 
hill,  Needham,  Mass.  It  was  run  up  by  Newell  Smith  Esq.,  one 
of  the  oldest  inhabitants,  and  saluted  by  the  firing  of  a  cannon 
on  a  neighboring  hill,  the  Star  Spangled  Banner  by  Flagg's 
band,  and  the  cheers  of  the  spectators.1 

The  authorities  of  Baltimore  indeed  forbid  the  display  of  the 
American  flag,  but  it  was  in  many  instances  kept  afloat  until  torn 
down  by  the  police.  After  several  weeks  of  trouble  and  anxiety, 
the  union  people  prevailed,  the  rebel  ensigns  were  secreted  or  de- 
stroyed, and  the  stars  and  stripes  were  flung  to  the  breeze  from 
a  thousand  windows  and  spires  all  over  the  city. 

The  attack  upon  Sumter  caused  a  wonderful  change  of  senti- 
ment in  Maryland.  On  the  ist  of  May  a  star  spangled  banner 
was  raised,  with  great  demonstrations  of  enthusiasm,  from  the 
Post  Office  and  Custom  House  at  Baltimore,  by  order  of  the  newly 
appointed  officials.  A  new  flagstaff  had  been  erected  over  the 
portico  of  the  Custom  House,  and  at  noon,  precisely,  Capt.  Frazier, 
a  veteran  sea  captain  of  Falls  point,  drew  up  the  flag  which  as  it 
spread  to  the  breeze  was  greeted  with  tremendous  applause, 
waving  of  hats,  cheers  for  the  union  and  the  old  flag.  The 
crowd  then  joined  in  singing  the  Star  Spangled  Banner.2 

An  American  flag  was  raised  at  Hagarstown,  Maryland, 
with  union  demonstrations.  Alleghany  county  instructed  its 
representatives  that  if  they  voted  for  secession,  they  would  be 
hung  on  their  return  home.  The  stars  and  stripes  were  hoisted 
over  Frederick  city.  The  home  guard  refused  to  parade  un- 
less the  stars  and  stripes  were  displayed  to  the  tune  of  Yankee 
Doodle  ;  and  at  Clear  Spring  House  our  flag  was  hoisted  and 
the  miners  swore  to  resist  secession  to  the  death.3 

May  7.  Reverdy  Johnson  addressed  the  home  guard  of  Frede- 
rick, Maryland,  upon  the  occasion  of  presenting  to  them  a  na- 
tional flag,  from  the  ladies  of  that  place.  The  population  of  the 


Boston  Transcript.  3  N.  T.  Advertiser,  May  i . 

3  N.  TT,  Courier  and  Enquirer. 


356  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

city  was  swelled  by  the  addition  of  upwards  of  two  thousand 
persons,  who  poured  in  from  the  surrounding  towns  and  villages. 
Union  badges  and  cockades  were  displayed  in  profusion  and  the 
stars  and  stripes  fluttered  from  forty  different  points.  The 
speakers'  stand  was  draped  with  the  national  colors,  and  imme- 
diately surrounded  by  the  Brengle  guard,  a  body  of  about  three 
hundred  respectable  citizens,  principally  aged  and  middle  aged 
men,  organized  for  home  protection  and  defence.  Mr.  Johnson 
concluded  his  speech  by  saying  :  "  Though  not  especially  impul- 
sive I  cannot  imagine  how  an  American  eye  can  look  upon  that 
standard  without  emotion.  The  twenty  stars  added  to  its  first 
constellation  tell  its  proud  history,  its  mighty  influence,  and  its 
unequaled  career.  The  man  who  is  dead  to  the  influence  of 
our  national  emblem,  is  in  mind  a  fool,  or  in  heart  a  traitor.  I 
need  not  commend  it  to  your  constant,  vigilant  care  ;  that  I  am 
sure  it  will  be  ever  your  pride  to  give  it.  When,  if  ever,  your 
hearts  shall  despond,  when,  if  ever  you  desire  your  patriotism  to 
be  specially  animated,  throw  it  to  the  winds,  gaze  on  its  beauti- 
ful folds,  remember  the  years  and  the  fields  over  which,  from 
'76  to  the  present  time,  it  has  been  triumphantly  borne  ;  remem- 
ber how  it  has  consoled  the  dying  and  animated  the  survivor ; 
remember  that  it  served  to  kindle  even  a  brighter  flame,  the  patri- 
otic ardor  of  Washington,  went  with  him  through  the  struggles 
of  the  revolution,  consoled  him  in  defeat,  gave  victory  an  additional 
charm,  and  his  dying  moments  were  consoled  and  cheered  by 
the  hope  that  it  would  float  over  a  perpetual  union." 

Sept.  12,  1 86 1.  The  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Baltimore 
was  celebrated  in  that  city  with  more  than  ordinary  de- 
monstration from  the  part  of  the  loyal  citizens.  The  national 
flag  was  displayed  on  the  public  buildings,  hotels  and  all  the 
loyal  newspaper  offices,  numerous  private  houses,  shipping  etc., 
and  the  various  camps.  General  Dix  issued  orders  for  firing  sa- 
lutes and  dress  parades  in  honor  of  the  day.  The  association 
of  old  defenders  made  their  usual  parade  with  their  old  flag, 
which  they  have  not  yet  deserted.  A  few  secession  shopkeep- 
ers arranged  their  goods  to  indicate  their  southern  principles, 
by  hanging  out  rolls  of  red  and  white  flannel,  or  by  displaying 
three  flannel  shirts,  two  red  with  a  white  one  in  the  centre. 

All  this  in 

"  Maryland  my  Maryland." 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  357 

At  a  mass  meeting  at  Kingston,  New  York,  to  sustain  the 
government  and  defend  the  union,  Mr.  J.  B.  Steele,  in  taking 
the  chair,  said  :  "  It  must  never  be  supposed  that  the  flag  could  be 
desecrated  without  touching  the  soul  of  every  genuine  Ameri- 
can. No  !  whatever  it  must  cost,  the  stars  and  stripes  must 
wave." z  Mr.  Westbrook  "  laid  aside  party  and  political  opin- 
ions and  prejudices.  He  loved  his  party  but,  thank  God,  he 
loved  his  country  better.  He  wasn't  going  to  stop  to  consider 
who  was  right  or  wrong,  but  right  or  wrong,  his  country."  He 
grasped  the  folds  of  the  stars  and  stripes  and  said  :  "  Let  it  be 
known,  that  in  the  XlXth  century,  traitor's  hands,  and  traitor's 
hearts  are  found  among  us  to  disgrace  that  flag  which  had  been 
their  shield,  and  protection  as  well  as  his  own.  He  asked  God 
to  record  his  vow  to  stand  by,  protect,  and  if  need  be,  die  for 
that  flag."2 

At  Washington  our  flag  was  hoisted  over  the  Department  of 
the  Interior,  and  enthusiastically  greeted  by  a  dense  mass  of  specta- 
tors, and  by  the  Rhode  Island  regiment  which  was  quartered  in 
the  building.  The  regiment  was  attended  by  Governor  Sprague 
and  suite  in  full  uniform.  President  Lincoln,  and  Secretaries 
Seward  and  Smith  were  near  the  staff  when  the  flag  was  raised, 
and  having  saluted  it  they  were  in  turn  cheered.  The  regiment 
then  returned  to  their  quarters  in  the  building  and  sung  Our  Flag 
it  still  Waves.3 

Col.  Corcoran's  regiment,  the  6gth  New  York,  on  the  occasion 
of  transporting  their  flagstaff  from  Georgetown  to  Arlington 
heights  celebrated  the  raising  of  the  flag.  A  new  song,  by  John 
Savage,  called  The  Starry  Flag  was  sung,  the  chorus  being  given 
by  the  thirteen  or  fourteen  hundred  voices  assembled.  Three 
cheers  were  then  given  for  the  author  of  the  song.4 

May  26tb  the  5th  regiment  of  Mass.,  Col.  Lawrence,  received 
orders  to  march  over  Long  bridge  into  Virginia,  when  it  was  dis- 
covered that  they  had  only  their  state  colors,  not  having  received 
their  national  ensign.  Several  Massachusetts  gentlemen  immedi- 
ately began  searching  for  one  and  succeeded  in  purchasing  from  a 
Mr.  Hemmock  a  fine  cashmere  flag  which  had  been  made  by  the 
ladies  for  his  hotel.  Securing  a  carriage  they  overtook  the  regi- 

1  N.   T,  Tribune,  Sept.  1 3th.  3  New  TorJc  Post,  May  jrd 

3  N.   T.  Tribune,  April  ao.  *  National  Intelligencer,  May  3. 


358  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

ment,  midway  on  Long  bridge,  when  it  was  halted,  and  the  flag 
presented  by  the  committee  to  the  colonel.  The  night  was  a 
beautiful  one,  a  full  moon  just  mounting  the  eastern  sky  cast 
its  silvery  sheen  over  the  rippling  waters  of  the  Potomac  and 
sparkled  on  the  bayonets  of  a  thousand  muskets.  Camp  fires 
and  signal  lights  dotted  the  river  on  both  sides,  making  a  picture 
of  quiet  beauty  never  to  be  forgotten.1 

At  a  union  meeting  at  Bedford,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on 
the  occasion  of  a  flag  raising,  Senator  Hall,  Hon.  John  Jay, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Bogg  of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  many  others 
addressed  the  assembly.2 

At  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Trenton,  and  many  other  places, 
the  newspaper  offices  were  compelled  to  display  the  American 
flag.3 

April  1 6th.  An  excited  populace  assembled  before  the  print- 
ing office  of  the  Palmetto  Flag,  a  small  advertising  sheet  in 
Philadelphia,  and  threatened  to  demolish  it.  The  proprietors 
displayed  the  American  flag  and  threw  the  objectionable  papers 
from  the  window,  also  The  Stars  and  Stripes ,  another  paper 
printed  in  the  same  office,  and  restored  the  mob  to  good  humor. 
The  crowd  then  moved  to  the  Argus  office,  and  ordered  that  the 
flag  should  be  displayed. 

After  visiting  the  newspaper  offices,  the  multitude  marched  up 
Market  street.  At  all  points  in  their  route  haste  was  made  to 
borrow,  beg  or  steal  something  red,  white  and  blue,  to  protect 
property  with.  Search  was  made  for  the  publication  rooms  of 
the  Southern  Monitor  and  its  sign  broken  to  pieces. 

Mayor  Henry,  when  the  Palmetto  Flag  office  was  threatened, 
addressed  the  mob,  and  said  :  "  By  the  grace  of  God  treason 
shall  never  rear  its  head  or  have  foothold  in  Philadelphia.  I 
call  upon  you,  as  American  citizens,  to  stand  by  your  flag  and 
protect  it  at  all  hazards  ;  but  in  doing  so  remember  the  rights 
due  your  fellow  citizens  and  their  private  property.  That  flag'* 
(hoisting  the  stars  and  stripes)  "  is  the  emblem  of  the  govern- 
ment and  I  call  upon  all  who  love  their  country  and  the  flag  to 
leave  to  the  constituted  authorities  of  the  city  the  task  of  pro- 


1  Nat.  Intelligencer.  2  N.  T.  Times,  April  ayth. 

3  N.  T.  papers,  April  i6th. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  359 

tecting  the  peace,  and  preventing  every  act  which  could  be 
construed  into  treason."  x 

At  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  a  fine  flagstaff  was  raised  upon  the 
spot  which  had  given  birth  to  the  Saybrook  Platform^  and  but  a 
short  distance  from  the  old  fort  built  by  the  first  settlers  of  the 
place.  Deacon  6V//,  ninety-one  years  of  age,  a  colonel  of  the 
war  of  1812-14,  and  the  patriarch  of  the  village  raised  the  flag. 
A  prayer  and  addresses  were  then  made,  the  intervals  being 
filled  by  national  songs  sung  by  a  club  from  a  neighboring  vil- 
lage. In  conclusion  the  old  men  who  were  present  were  called 
upon,  and  made  short  and  telling  speeches.2 

May  30.  The  American  flag  was  raised  over  the  residence 
of  Lieut.  General  Winfield  Scott,  at  Elizabethtown,  New  Jer- 
sey, in  the  presence  of  five  thousand  people.  The  Star  Spangled 
Banner  was  sung,  and  the  people  joined  in  the  chorus  producing 
a  fine  effect.  Speeches  were  made,  and  received  with  great 
applause.3 

June  16.  J.  G.  Morrison  Jr.,  and  several  of  his  friends,  un- 
furled the  star  spangled  banner  on  the  Maryland  abutments  of 
the  lately  destroyed  bridge  at  Harpers  Ferry.  The  cherished 
symbol  of  the  union  was  hailed  with  delight  by  the  people  of 
Harpers  Ferry,  and  particularly  by  the  women,  who  flocked  to 
the  opposite  bank,  and  saluted  it  by  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs 
and  other  manifestations  of  joy.4 

At  the  raising  of  the  stars  and  stripes  over  Andover  Semi- 
nary, the  following  hymn  written  for  the  occasion  by  Mrs. 
Harriet  Beecher  Stowe,  was  sung  to  the  tune  of  America. 

"  Here  where  our  fathers  came 
Bearing  the  holy  flame 

To  light  our  days — 
Here  where  with  faith  and  prayer 
They  raised  these  walls  in  air, 
Now  to  the  heavens  so  fair, 

Their  flag  we  raise. 


1  N.  T.  Tribune.  3* Boston  Advertiser,  May  a  1st. 

2  N.  T.  Commercial,  May  30.  *  Baltimore  American ,  June  24. 


360  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

"  Look  ye  where  free  it  waves 
Over  their  hallowed  graves 

Blessing  their  sleep  ; 
Now  pledge  your  heart  and  hand 
Sons  of  a  noble  land 
Round  this  bright  flag  to  stand, 

Till  death  to  keep. 

"  God  of  our  fathers !  now 
To  thee  we  raise  our  vow 

Judge  and  defend  ; 
Let  freedom's  banner  wave 
Till  there  be  not  a  slave 
Thou  thyself  strong  to  save 
Unto  the  end." 

One  of  the  most  interesting  and  imposing  ceremonies  of  the 
year  was  the  flag-raising  from  the  summit  of  Bunker  hill  monu- 
ment on  the  seventeenth  day  of  June,  the  anniversary  of  the 
battle.  The  day  was  warm  and  pleasant,  and  a  large  concourse 
of  people  were  assembled.  At  the  base  of  the  monument  a 
stage  was  erected,  on  which  were  the  officers  of  the  association, 
the  school  children,  the  city  authorities  of  Charlestown,  Governor 
Andrew  and  his  staff,  Colonel  Fletcher  Webster,  of  the 
twelfth  regiment,  and  many  other  prominent  citizens  of  the  state. 
A  fine  band  of  music  played  national  airs.  The  services  were 
opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  James  B.  Miles,  after  which  a 
short  and  eloquent  address  was  made  by  Hon.  G.  Washing- 
ton Warren,  introducing  Governor  Andrew,  who  was  received 
with  hearty  cheers.  The  governor's  address  was  brief,  fer- 
vent, eloquent,  and  patriotic.  After  referring  to  the  men  of  the 
revolution  who  had  sacrificed  their  lives  for  independence,  and 
made  moist  the  soil  of  Bunker  hill  with  their  blood,  he  said: 

u  It  is  one  of  the  hallowed  omens  of  the  controversy  of  our 
time,  that  the  men  of  Middlesex,  the  men  of  Charlestown,  the 
men  of  Concord,  of  Lexington,  of  Acton,  are  all  in  the  field  in 
this  contest.  This  day,  this  hour,  reconsecrated  by  their  deeds, 
are  adding  additional  leaves  tp  the  beautiful  chaplet  which  adorns 
fhe  fair  honor  of  good  old  Massachusetts.  Not  unto  me,  not 
unto  us,  let  any  praise  be  given.  Let  no  tongue  dare  speak  a 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  361 

eulogy  for  us  ;  but  reserve  all  the  love  and  gratitude  that  lan- 
guage can  express  for  the  patriotic  sons  of  Massachusetts  who  are 
bearing  our  country's  flag  on  the  field  of  contest. 

"  Obedient,  therefore,  to  the  request  of  this  association,  and 
to  the  impulse  of  my  own  heart,  I  spread  aloft  the  ensign  of  the 
republic,  testifying  for  ever,  to  the  last  generation  of  men,  of 
the  rights  of  mankind,  and  to  constitutional  liberty  and  law. 
Let  it  rise  until  it  shall  surmount  the  capital  of  the  column,  let 
it  float  on  every  wind,  to  every  sea  and  every  shore,  from  every 
hill-top  let  it  wave,  down  every  river  let  it  run.  Respected  it 
shall  be  in  Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  and  in  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  on  the  Mississippi,  as  on  the  Penobscot,  in  New 
Orleans  as  in  Cincinnati,  in  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  as  on  Lake 
Superior,  and  by  France  and  England,  now  and  forever.  Catch 
it,  ye  breezes,  as  it  swings  aloft ;  fan  it,  every  wind  that  blows  ; 
clasp  it  in  your  arms,  and  let  it  float  for  ever,  as  the  starry  sign 
of  liberty  and  union,  now  and  forever,  one  and  inseparable." 

The  flag  had  been  raised  to  the  top  of  the  flag  staff  forty  feet 
above  the  summit  of  the  monument  and  260  feet  from  the  ground, 
rolled  up  as  the  signal  flags  are  on  board  of  a  man-of-war.  As 
Governor  Andrew  concluded,  he  pulled  the  rope,  the  knot  was 
loosened,  and  the  flag  floated  out  on  the  breeze,  amid  the  shouts 
of  the  assembled  thousands,  and  the  playing  of  the  Star  Spangled 
Banner  by  Gilmore's  band.  The  Star  Spangled  Banner  was 
then  sung  by  F.  A.  Hall,  Esq.,  of  Charlestown,  the  whole  assem- 
blage joining  in  the  chorus,  and  the  ladies  taking  part  with  peculiar 
zest. 

The  governor  then  called  for  nine  cheers  for  the  glorious 
star  spangled  banner,  which  were  given  with  great  heart,  the 
ladies  waving  their  handkerchiefs. 

When  the  excitement  had  somewhat  subsided,  the  governor 
came  forward  and,  in  a  few  complimentary  remarks,  introduced 
Colonel  Webster.  The  speech  of  this  gentleman  was  brief 
and  appropriate.  His  father  had  made  the  oration  when  the 
corner-stone  of  the  monument  was  laid,  and  again  when  the 
monument  was  completed.  Colonel  Webster  said  he  well 
remembered  the  preliminary  meetings  of  the  committee  selected 
to  flecide  upon  the  size,  character,  design,  and  site  of  this 
46 


362  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

monument.  They  met  frequently  at  his  father's  house.  He 
could  remember  the  appearance  of  most  of  them,  —  Colonel 
Thomas  H.  Perkins,  William  Sullivan,  and  Gilbert  Stuart,  the 
great  painter,  whose  enormous  block-tin  snuff  box  attracted  his 
youthful  attention. 

"  As  a  boy,  I  was  present  at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone 
of  this  great  obelisk  under  whose  shadow  we  now  are.  La 
Fayette  laid  the  stone  with  appropriate  and  imposing  masonic 
ceremonies.  The  vast  procession,  impatient  of  unavoidable 
delay,  broke  the  line  of  march,  and  in  a  tumultuous  crowd 
rushed  towards  the  orator's  platform,  and  I  was  saved  from 
being  trampled  under  foot,  by  the  strong  arm  of  Mr.  George 
Sullivan,  who  lifted  me  on  his  shoulders  and  shouting  !  '  Don't 
kill  the  orator's  son  !'  bore  me  through  the  crowd,  and  placed 
me  on  the  staging  at  my  father's  feet.  I  felt  something  em- 
barrassed at  that  notice,  as  I  now  do  at  this  unforeseen  notice 
by  his  excellency,  but  I  had  no  occasion  to  make  an  acknow- 
ledgement of  it."  He  had  also  witnessed  the  ceremonies  on  the 
completion  of  the  monument  in  the  presence  of  many  distin- 
guished persons  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  '  some  of  whom,' 
said  Colonel  Webster,  c  I  regret  to  say  would  hardly  like  to 
renew  that  visit,  or  recall  that  scene.'  "Within  a  few  days 
after  this  I  sailed  for  China  :  and  I  watched  while  light  and  eye- 
sight lasted,  till  its  lofty  summit  faded  at  last  from  view.  I 
now  stand  again  at  its  base,  and  renew  once  more,  on  this  national 
altar,  vows,  not  for  the  first  time  made,  of  devotion  to  my  coun- 
try, its  constitution  and  union." 

He  concluded  as  follows  :  "  From  this  spot  I  take  my  de- 
parture, like  the  mariner  commencing  his  voyage  ;  and  when- 
ever my  eyes  close,  they  will  be  turned  hitherward  toward  the 
north,  and  in  whatever  event,  grateful  will  be  the  reflection  that 
this  monument  still  stands,  still  is  gilded  by  the  earliest  beams 
of  the  rising  sun,  and  that  still  departing  day  lingers  and  plays  on 
its  summit  for  ever." 

The  services  concluded  with  a  benediction  by  the  venerable 
Father  Taylor.  The  flag  thus  raised,  floated  from  its  serene 
height  during  the  entire  war,  until  it  was  as  respected  in  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina,  as  in  Charlestown,  Massachusetts.  None 
who  knew  Colonel  Webster,  can  read  his  words  on  this  occa- 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  363 

sion,  without  recalling  many  pleasant  memories  connected  with 
his  name.  It  was  his  last  utterance  in  public  ;  for,  before  the 
close  of  the  next  year,  he  fell  in  Virginia,  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment,  in  a  desperate  battle.  His  body  was  brought  home 
to  Massachusetts,  and  lay  in  state  at  Faneuil  Hall  a  day,  when 
it  was  taken  to  Marshfield,  and  buried  by  the  side  of  his  illus- 
trious father,  and  there  it  will  remain  forever.1 


Schouler's  History  of  Mass,  in  the  Civil  War. 


364  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


OUR  FLAG  IN  SECESSIA. 

At  New  Orleans  a  decided  excitement  was  created  before 
the  fall  of  Sumter  by  a  flag  being  hoisted  at  the  masthead  of  the 
ship  Adelaide  Bell  (owned  in  New  Hampshire),  which  the 
captain  of  the  ship,  more  indiscreet  than  wise,  proclaimed  to  be 
a  black  republican  flag,  and  defied  any  body. to  pull  it  down. 

Intelligence  of  the  exhibition  and  its  accompanying  threat 
soon  spread  abroad,  and  the  captain  was  waited  upon  by  several 
parties  who  induced  him  to  lower  the  obnoxious  bunting.  The 
flag  which  occasioned  this  excitement  was  the  old  stars  and 
stripes,  only  that  the  stripe  below  the  union  was  red,  while  in 
the  ordinary  flags  the  union  rests  on  a  white  stripe.  The  cap- 
tain, when  questioned,  denied  the  flag  had  any  political  sig- 
nificance, and  asserted  that  it  was  presented  to  the  ship  seven 
years  before,  by  Mr.  Isaac  Bell  of  Mobile,  after  whose  wife  the 
ship  was  named.  His  statement  was  disbelieved,  and  the  vigi- 
lant committee  stuck  to  their  assertion  that  the  flag  was  kpown 
at  sea  among  sea  captains  as  the  flag  of  the  northern  republican 
states,  and  had  been  so  recognized  for  three  or  four  years. 

It  would  have  eased  the  excitement  of  those  gentlemen,  could 
they  have  been  informed  that,  as  early  as  1838,  flags  like  the  one 
hoisted  on  the  Adelaide  Bell,  with  the  union  resting  on  the  red 
stripe,  were  made  at  the  Norfolk  navy  yard,  for  the  vessels  of 
war  equipped,  at  that  station,  and  that  for  many  years  all  the 
flags  made  there  were  of  like  pattern.  They  were  called  by 
signal  quarter  masters,  Norfolk  war  flags,  because  the  blue 
of  the  union  rested  on  the  red  or  war  stripe. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1861,  Mr.  Richard  Fairchild  saw 
an  American  flag  hoisted  at  New  Orleans  in  honor  of  the  day, 
which  is  believed  to  have  been  the  last  union  banner  raised  there 
previous  to  Farragut's  arrival  off  the  city.  As  Mr.  Fairchild  was 
proceeding  down  Front  Levee  street,  he  saw  a  gentleman  raise  a 
large  American  flag,  on  which  was  inscribed  under  two  clasped 
hands  the  words  :  "  united  we  stand  divided  we  fall."  The  an- 
nouncement of  the  defiant  act  created  great  excitement,  and  a 
crowd  of  secessionists  assembled  in  front  of  the  St.  Charles  Hotel 
and  proceeded  in  a  body  to  the  levee  with  the  purpose  of  taking 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  365 

down  the  flag.  They  found,  however,  some  hundreds  of  de- 
termined men  surrounding  the  flagstaff,  all  armed,  and  many 
with  rifles,  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  keeping  the  old  flag 
flying  on  the  birthday  of  the  father  of  his  country.  They  were 
undisturbed,  and  the  bunting  waved  until  night,  when  it  was 
voluntarily  taken  down.1 

After  New  Orleans  had  been  captured  by  our  forces,  the 
spirit  of  treason  skulked  everywhere.  Hotels,  saloons,  and  stores 
were  full  of  concealed  rebels,  who  would  have  fiddled  and  danced 
over  the  massacre  of  union  men.  At  that  time  few  American 
flags  waved  in  New  Orleans,  and  those  only  over  military  quar- 
ters ;  and  it  became  necessary  to  issue  an  order  for  the  display 
of  our  stars  and  stripes  over  places  of  public  resort  licensed  by 
the  provost  marshal.  The  order  was  very  reluctantly  com- 
plied with,  and  a  few  old  flags  waved  from  some  hotels  and 
theatres.  But  so  vindictive  and  morose  was  the  secesh  feeling 
that  the  managers  of  the  theatres  felt  bound  to  cater  for  it.  They 
refused  to  permit  the  orchestra  to  play  any  one  of  our  national 
airs.  A  thrilling  scene  arose  one  night  when  a  call  arose  from  a 
few  union  men,  and  United  States  officers  in  the  theatre  for  the 
band  to  play  Hail  Columbia  and  the  Star  Spangled  Banner.  The 
cowardly  manager  declined.  It  was  then  a  single  man  arose  in 
the  boxes  and  cried  out  that  the  American  national  airs  should 
be  played.  He  called  upon  loyal  men  to  second  him.  The 
house  became  a  scene  of  fierce  excitement.  But  the  brave 
loyalist  stood  his  ground.  He  demanded  the  Star  Spangled  Ban- 
ner, and  Red  White  and  Blue,  should  be  given,  and  the  mana- 
ger was  forced  to  yield.  That  gallant  loyalist  was  Doct.  A.  P. 
Dostie,  who,  after  the  war,  was  murdered  in  New  Orleans.2 

The  union  association  of  New  Orleans  held  their  first  public 
meeting  in  that  city  on  the  3d  of  June,  1862,  and  resolved  to 
rehoist  the  United  States  flag  on  the  following  Saturday. 
It  was  determined  to  appoint  a  committee  of  thirty-four  to 
perform  the  duty,  but  the  president  of  the  association  finding 
some  difficulty  in  selecting  that  number,  volunteers  were  called 
for  and  readily  found.  Six  or  seven  of  the  thirty-four  were  inti- 
midated by  anonymous  threatening  letters,  which  were  received 
by  nearly  every  member  of  the  committee  ;  the  others  ascended 

1  New  York  Sunday  Dispatch.  "*  Banner  of  the  Covenant,  June  15,  1861. 


366  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

to  the  top  of  the  City  Hall  and  hoisted  the  flag.  In  1866,  this 
flag  was  sent  to  Washington  and  by  advice  of  General  Butler, 
to  whom  the  question  of  its  deposit  was  referred,  it  was  delivered 
to  the  revenue  department  of  the  treasury.  Secretary  McCul- 
och,  acknowledging  its  receipt  wrote  to  Dr.  James  Ready,  who 
had  been  charged  with  the  duty  of  conveying  the  flag  to  the  capi- 
tal :  "  I  will  carefully  preserve  it  as  a  memento  of  the  great 
trial  through  which  the  nation  has  safely  and  honorably  passed, 
and  of  the  loyalty  of  the  gallant  little  band  who  first  gave  it  to  the 
breeze.  It  will  be  preserved,  not  as  a  reminder  of  the  triumph 
of  one  section  of  the  country  over  another,  but  of  the  union 
over  those  who  attempted  to  dismember  it ;  not  of  a  victory  of 
the  north  over  the  south,  but  of  constitutional  liberty  and  repub- 
lican institutions  in  the  great  struggle  of  the  government  for  the 
maintenance  of  both." 

The  Restoration  of  our  Flag  at  New  Orleans.  —  On  the  26th  of 
April,  1862,  flag  officer  Farragut  wrote  to  the  mayor  of  New 
Orleans  demanding  "that  the  emblem  of  the  sovereignty  of  the 
United  States  be  hoisted  over  the  City  Hall,  Mint  and  Custom 
House  by  meridian  of  this  day,  and  all  flags  and  other  emblems 
of  sovereignty  other  than  that  of  the  United  States  be  removed 
from  the  public  buildings  by  that  hour."  To  this,  the  next  day 
(Sunday,  April  27th),  the  mayor  replied  :  "  the  city  is  yours  by  the 
power  of  brutal  force,  not  by  my  choice  or  the  consent  of  its 
inhabitants.  As  to  hoisting  any  flag  not  of  our  own  adoption,  and 
allegiance,  let  me  say  to  you  that  the  man  lives  npt  in  our  midst 
whose  hand  and  heart  would  not  be  paralyzed  at  the  mere  thought 
of  such  an  act;  nor  could  I  find  in  my  entire  constituency  so  des- 
perate and  wretched  a  renegade  as  would  dare  to  profane  with 
his  hand  the  sacred  emblems  of  our  aspirations."  The  substance 
of  the  mayor's  meaning  seemed  to  be  "  come  on  shore  and  hoist 
what  flags  you  please,  dont  ask  us  to  do  your  flag  raising."  J 

The  commander  of  the  fleet  refused  to  confer  farther  with  the 
mayor  ;  but  with  regard  to  the  flag  hoisting,  determined  to  take 
him  at  his  word.  Capt.  H.  W.  Morris,  whose  ship  the  Pensacola 
lay  off  the  Mint,  was  ordered  to  send  a  party  ashore,  and  hoist 
the  flag  of  the  United  States  upon  that  edifice.  At  eight  A.  M., 

1  Parton's  Butler  at  New  Orleans,  from  which  this  account  is  condensed. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  stars  and  stripes  were  floating  over  it,  and  the  officer  detailed 
to  hoist  them  warned  the  bystanders  that  the  guns  of  the  Pensa- 
cola  would  certainly  open  fire  upon  the  building  if  any  one 
should  be  seen  molesting  the  flag.  Without  leaving  a  guard  to 
protect  the  flag  he  returned  to  his  ship ;  but  the  howitzers  in  the 
main  top  of  the  Pensacola,  loaded  with  grape,  were  aimed  at 
the  flag  staff  and  the  guard  ordered  to  fire  the  moment  any  one 
should  attempt  to  haul  down  the  flag. 

At  ii  A.  M.,  the  crews  of  all  the  ships  were  assembled  on 
deck  for  prayers,  agreeably  to  the  flag  officer's  order,  "  to  render 
thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  his  great  goodness  and  mercy  in 
permitting  us  to  pass  through  the  events  of  the  last  two  days 
with  so  little  loss  of  life  and  blood."  The  solemn  service  had 
proceeded  about  twenty  minutes  when  a  discharge  from  the 
howitzer  overhead  startled  the  crews  from  their  devotion  !  They 
rushed  to  quarters ;  every  eye  sought  the  flagstaff  of  the  Mint. 
Four  men  were  seen  on  the  roof  of  the  building  who  tore  down 
the  flag,  hurried  away  with  it  and  disappeared.  Fortunately  the 
wafers  by  which  the  guns  are  discharged  had  been  removed 
from  the  vents,  for,  without  orders,  by  a  sudden  impulse  the 
lanyards  of  the  guns  all  along  the  broadside  of  the  Penscola  were 
snatched  at  by  eager  hands  and  nothing  but  the  removal  of  the 
wafers  saved  the  city  from  a  fearful  scene  of  destruction  and 
slaughter.  The  exasperation  throughout  the  fleet  at  the  auda- 
cious act  was  equally  great. 

The  next  day  (Monday),  the  New  Orleans  Picayune  proclaimed 
the  names  of  the  persons  u  that  distinguished  themselves  by  gal- 
lantly tearing  down  the  flag  that  had  been  surreptitiously  hoisted,  " 
as  "  Wm.  B.  Mumford,whocut  it  loose  from  the  flagstaff  amid 
a  shower  of  grape,  Lieut.  N.  Holmes,  Sergeant  Burns  and  James 
Reed,"  and  added,  "  they  deserve  great  credit  for  their  patriotic 
act. " 

These  four  men,  having  secured  their  prize,  trailed  it  in  the 
mud  of  the  streets  amid  the  yells  of  the  mob,  and  mounted  with  it 
upon  a  furniture  cart,  they  paraded  it  about  the  city  with  fife 
and  drum  ;  tore  it  into  shreds,  and  distributed  the  pieces  among 
the  crowd.  Defied  and  insulted  by  a  town  that  lay  at  his 
mercy,  Farragut  warned  the  mayor  of  the  danger  of  drawing  the 


368  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

fire  of  the  fleet  from  the  spontaneous  action  of  his  men,1  and 
concluded  by  saying  :  "  The  election  is  with  you,  but  it  becomes 
my  duty  to  notify  you  to  remove  the  women  and  children  from 
the  city  within  forty-eight  hours,  if  I  have  rightly  understood 
your  determination."  This  note  the  authorities  chose  to  in- 
terpret as  a  formal  announcement  of  his  intention  to  bombard  the 
city  at  the  end  of  the  specified  time.2  The  surrender  of  the 
forts,  the  news  of  which  reached  the  city  on  Monday,  lowered 
the  tone  of  the  authorities.  They  dared  not  formally  disclaim 
the  exploit  of  Mumford  and  his  associates  ;  but  the  flag  officer 
was  privately  assured  that  the  removal  of  the  flag  from  the  Mint 
was  the  unauthorized  act  of  a  few  individuals.  On  the  29th, 
Capt.  H.  H.  Bell,  with  a  hundred  marines,  landed  on  the  levee, 
marched  into  the  city,  hauled  down  the  rebel  flags  from  the 
Mint  and  Custom  House,  and  hoisted  in  its  stead  the  flag  of 
the  United  States.  Capt.  Bell  locked  the  Custom  House  and 
took  the  keys  to  the  flag  ship.  These  flags  remained  though  the 
marines  were  withdrawn  before  evening.3  On  the  ist  of  May 

1  The  first   United    States  flag  hoisted  outside  the  squadron  when  in  front  of  New 
Orleans,  was  a  small  boat  flag  hoisted  by  my  order,  Friday,  April  25,  at  the  masthead 
of  the  schooner  John  Gilpin,  then  lying  at  a  wharf  at  Algiers,  opposite  side  the  city. 
Her  master,  John  Forsyth,  I  took   on  board  the   flag  ship,  where   he  was  paroled  on 
agreeing  to  keep  the  flag  flying  and  secure  the  schooner  from  destruction  by  the  mob. 
On  the  28th,  a  man  came  on   board  the  Kathadin,  and  stated   to  me  that  he  was  a 
loyal  man  and  was  afraid  the  fleet  would  bombafd  his  little  place  at  Gretna,  opposite 
New  Orleans,  and  destroy  his  house  and  garden.     I  told  him  he  could  easily  prevent 
that  by  hoisting  the  stars  and  stripes   over  his  place.      He  said  he  was  afraid  to  do 
that ;  the  mob  would  murder  him.     I  then  told   him  he  must  choose  between  the 
dangers  of  the  mob  and  a  bombardment,  and  offered  to  loan  him  a  flag,"  which  he  ac- 
cepted and    carried  away   with  him,  and  I  have   reason  to  believe,   hoisted  it,  but  of 
that  am  not  certain." — G.H.P. 

2  Parton's  General  Butler  in  Neiu  Orleans. 

8"  I  find  in  my  private  diary  under  date,  United  States  Gunboat  Kathadin,  Tuesday, 
April  29,  1862. 

"  Heard  great  cheering  in  the  fleet  at  8  A.  M.,  and  the  ships  all  hoisted  the  stars 
and  stripes  at  their  masthead  indicative  of  good  news,  but  what,  I  could  not  tell. 
Nevertheless  I  hoisted  the  ensigns.  The  Kennebec  came  up  showing  either  she  had 
run  the  forts  or  that  they  had  surrendered.  At  i  p.  M.,  got  under  way  and  an- 
chored near  the  Hartford  and  went  on  board  to  obtain  the  news,  and  learned  that 
both  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Phillips  have  surrendered  to  Porter,  and  the  Cayuga 
would  sail  in  a  few  hours  for  the  north,  with  Capt.  Theodorus  Bailey,  a  bearer  of  dis- 
patches. Commander  Boggs  and  the  N.  Y.  Herald  correspondent  going  in  her  as 
passengers.  Delivered  to  Capt.  B.,the  flag  of  the  Challamette  regiment.  At  2  p.  M. 
the  Cayuga  got  under  way.  As  she  passed  the  Kathadin,  we  gave  three  cheers  for 
Captain  Bailey,  three  for  Commander  Boggs  and  three  for  Lieut.  Commanding  Har- 
rison, and  the  brave  tars  of  the  Cayuga.  The  Diana,  Tennesee  and  another  of  the 
seized  steamers  went  down  river  to  bring  up  troops.  The  flag  officer  landed  two 
hundred  marines  and  took  possession  of  the  public  buildings  on  shore  and  hoisted  our 
flag  over  the  new  Custom  House,  The  state  flag  of  Louisiana  was  hauled  down  from 
the  City  Hall  and  sent  north  by  the  Cayuga." —  G.  H.  P. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  369 

Gen.  Butler  landed  a  portion  of  his  troops  about  5  P.  M.,  and 
took  permanent  possession  of  the  city,  and  issued  his  proclama- 
tion in  which  he  says  :  "all  ensigns,  flags,  or  devices  tending  to  up- 
hold any  authority  whatever,  save  the  flags  of  the  United  States, 
and  those  of  foreign  consulates,  must  not  be  exhibited,  but  sup- 
pressed. The  American  ensigns,  the  emblem  of  the  United 
States,  must  be  treated  with  the  utmost  deference  and  respect 
by  all  persons,  under  pain  of  severe  punishment." 

After  the  occupation  of  the  city  by  the  United  States  troops, 
Mumford  still  appeared  in  the  streets  bold,  reckless  and  defiant, 
one  of  the  heroes  of  the  populace.  He  was  seen  even  in  front  of 
the  St.  Charles  Hotel,  General  Butler's  head  quarters,  relating  his 
exploits  to  a  circle  of  admirers,  boasting  of  it,  and  daring  the  union 
authorities  to  molest  him.  He  did  this  once  too  often.  He  was 
arrested  and  tried  by  a  military  commission,  who  condemned 
him  to  death.  General  Butler  approved  the  sentence  and  issued 
the  following  order  for  his  execution. 

Special  Order,  No.  IO. 

"  NEW  ORLEANS,  June  5,  1862. 

"  William  B.  Mumford,  a  citizen  of  New  Orleans,  having 
been  convicted  before  a  military  commission,  of  treason,  and  an 
overt  act  thereof  in  tearing  down  the  United  States  flag  from  a 
public  building  of  the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  inciting 
other  evil  minded  persons  to  further  resistance  to  the  laws  and 
arms  of  the  United  States,  after  said  flag  was  placed  there  by 
Commodore  [flag  officer]  Farragut  of  the  United  States  navy. 

"  It  is  ordered  that  he  be  executed  according  to  the  sentence 
of  the  said  military  commission,  on  Saturday,  June  yth  inst,  be- 
tween the  hours  of  8  A.  M.,  and  12  M.,  under  the  direction  of 
the  provost  marshal  of  the  district  of  New  Orleans  ;  and  for  so 
doing,  this  shall  be  his  sufficient  warrant." 


During  his  trial  and  after  his  conviction,  Mumford  showed 
neither  fear  nor  contrition  ;  and  evidently  expected  a  commuta- 
tion of  his  sentence,  not  believing  that  General  Butler  would 
dare  execute  it.  His  friends,  the  thieves  and  gamblers  of  the 
city,  openly  defied  the  general,  resolved  in  council,  not  to  peti- 
tion for  his  pardon,  and  bound  themselves  to  assassinate  General 
47 


370  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Butler  if  Mumford  were  hanged.  Between  Mumford's  con- 
demnation and  the  time  set  for  his  execution  General  Butler 
reprieved  and  sent  to  Ship  island  six  confederate  soldiers  who 
had  been  condemned  to  be  shot  for  violating  their  paroles,  but 
he  could  not  be  made  to  consider  that  Mumford  deserved  the 
same  clemency,  and  when  the  day  set  apart  for  his  execution 
arrived  he  was  hanged.  Mumford  met  his  doom  with  compo- 
sure. He  said  that  "  the  offense  for  which  he  was  condemned 
was  committed  under  excitement,  and  that  he  did  not  consider 
he  was  suffering  justly.  He  conjured  all  who  heard  him  to  act 
justly  to  all  men  ;  to  rear  their  children  properly  :  and  when 
they  met  death  they  would  meet  it  firmly.  He  was  prepared  to 
die  ;  and  as  he  had  never  wronged  any  one  he  hoped  to  receive 
mercy."  An  immense  concourse  attended  his  execution  but 
there  was  no  disturbance. 

The  name  of  Mumford,  if  we  may  believe  the  confederate 
newspapers,  was  immediately  added  to  their  roll  of  martyrs  to  the 
cause  of  liberty.  The  fugitive  governor  of  Louisiana  from  some 
safe  retreat  up  the  river  issued  a  proclamation  about  this  time  in 
which  he  said  :  "  The  noble  heroism  of  the  patriot,  Mumford, 
has  placed  his  name  high  on  our  list  of  martyred  sons.  When 
the  federal  navy  reached  New  Orleans,  a  squad  of  marines  was 
sent  on  shore,  who  hoisted  their  flag  on  the  Mint.  The  city 
was  not  occupied  by  the  United  States  troops,  nor  had  they 
reached  there.  The  place  was  not  in  their  possession.  Wil- 
liam B.  Mumford  pulled  down  the  detested  symbol,  with  his 
own  hand,  and  for  this  was  condemned  to  be  hung  by  General 
Butler  after  his  arrival.  Brought  in  full  view  of  the  scaffold, 
his  murderers  hoped  to  appall  his  heroic  soul,  by  the  exhibition 
of  the  implements  of  ignominious  death.  With  the  evidence 
of  their  determination  to  consummate  their  brutal  purpose  be- 
fore his  eyes,  they  offered  him  life  on  the  condition  that  he 
would  abjure  his  country,  and  swear  allegiance  to  her  foe.  He 
spurned  the  offer.  Scorning  to  stain  his  soul  with  such  foul 
dishonor,  he  met  his  fate  courageously,  and  has  transmitted  to  his 
countrymen  a  fresh  example  of  what  one  will  do  and  dare  when 
under  the  inspiration  of  fervid  patriotism.  I  shall  not  forget  the 
outrage  of  his  murder,  nor  shall  it  pass  unatoned."  x 

1  Parton's  General  Butler  in  New  Orleans. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  371 

June  13,  1862.  A  United  States  flag  was  raised  at  the  village 
of  Gretna,  La.,  opposite  New  Orleans,  amid  the  rejoicings  of  a 
large  number  of  spectators,  and  patriotic  resolutions  were  passed. 

At  Richmond,  Va.,  "on  the  morning  of  the  i8th  of  April, 
1 86 1,  tumultuous  crowds  assembled  at  the  Capitol,  in  that 
city,  in  the  square  in  front  of  Governor  Letcher's  house,  and 
amid  shouts  of  execration  and  defiance,  demanded  the  removal 
of  the  United  States  banner,  and  that  the  flag  of  the  confederacy 
should  be  forthwith  hoisted  in  its  place.  One  fellow  in  this  unruly 
mob,  too  impatient  to  wait  for  a  formal  compliance  with  this 
demand,  rushed  up  the  steps  of  the  Capitol,  and  climbing  to 
the  roof,  attempted  to  mount  the  flagstaff  that  he  might  tear 
down  the  flag  of  our  union,  encouraged  and  cheered  in  his 
efforts,  by  the  tumultuous  crowd  below.  He  had  nearly  reached 
the  top  when  he  slipped,  and  falling  on  the  roof,  was  severely 
hurt.  This  was  a  bad  omen.  Shortly  afterward  a  detachment 
of  soldiers  was  ordered  to  the  spot  to  keep  the  crowd  in  order. 
In  the  afternoon,  however,  the  mob  increased  to  such  an  extent 
that  the  small  knot  of  respectable  citizens,  who  resolutely  aided 
the  soldiers  in  their  efforts  to  keep  order,  were  driven  back ;  the 
Capitol  taken  by  storm,  the  flag  of  the  union  torn  down,  and  that 
of  the  confederacy  hoisted." 

"  I  could  not  but  feel  moved,"  said  Col.  Estevan,  u  at  this  out- 
rageous act  of  the  populace,  in  thus  ignominiously  hauling  down 
the  flag  of  the  republic  under  which  I  had  found  a  refuge  and 
a  home,  especially  when  I  saw  how  deeply  affected  were  many  of 
the  by  standers  of  both  sexes,  loyal  adherents  of  the  union,  on 
witnessing  the  occurrence."1 

May  10,  1 86 1,  was  observed  as  a  fast  'day  at  Wheeling,  Va. 
Patriotic  sermons  were  delivered  in  nine  out  of  the  twelve 
churches.  The  Methodist  pulpit  was  decorated  with  the  stars 
and  stripes.  Rev.  Mr.  Smith  delivered  an  eloquent  address. 
He  said  if  there  was  any  secessionist  in  his  congregation  he 
wanted  him  to  leave.  Other  ministers  prayed  that  the  rebels 
might  be  subdued  and  wiped  from  the  face  of  the  earth.2 

Sept.  6,  1 86 1.  Gen.  Grant  gave  permission  to  several  union 
officers  to  hoist  a  union  flag,  on  the  top  of  the  St,  Francis  Hotel 


1  Col.  Estevan's     War  Pictures  from  the  South,  pp.,  34,  35. 
3  New  York  Herald. 


372  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

at  Paducah,  Kentucky.  The  landlord  objected,  saying  that  it 
would  bring  him  trouble,  and  he  did  not  want  its  protection. 
He  was  told  to  keep  qaiet,  that  the  flag  must  wave  there  in 
place  of  the  secession  flag  he  had  allowed  to  float  over  it  before 
our  troops  came,  and  that  if  he  or  other  rebels  interfered  with 
the  flag,  or  pulled  it  down,  they  would  be  led  out  and  shot 
down.  This  assurance,  from  Brig.  Gen.  Paine,  quieted  his 
nerves  and  the  flag  floated,  defying  the  rebels  despite  many  re- 
marks by  them  that  "  the  damned  rag  must  come  down."1 

Nov.  25,  1 86 1.  Woolfolk,  a  secessionist  in  Paducah,  Ken 
tucky,  hung  out  of  his  window  a  secession  flag  as  some  United 
States  troops  were  passing,  and  hurraed  for  JefF.  Davis.  He  had 
done  the  same  thing  previously.  General  Wallace  sent  his 
aide  de  camp  with  a  squad  of  men  to  take  it  in.  Woolfolk  re- 
fused to  obey  the  order,  whereupon  the  flag  was  forcibly  hauled 
down  and  the  stars  and  stripes  hoisted  in  its  stead. 

July  23,  1 86 1.  The  ladies  of  Martinsburg,  Va.,  presented 
the  2d  Wisconsin  regiment  a  beautiful  national  ensign.  The 
ladies  said  in  presenting  it :  "  We  welcome  you  into  our  midst 
bearing  the  flag  of  our  glorious  country,  trusting  in  God  ;  this 
flag  has  protected  the  oppressed  of  all  lands,  who  have  sought 
its  shelter,  and  so  long  as  this  flag  shall  wave  the  oppressed 
shall  be  free."  Coming  as  it  did  from  a  state  which  was  de- 
clared out  of  the  union  by  its  constituted  authorities,  the  regi- 
ment received  the  donation  with  peculiar  pleasure.2 

Nov.  8,  1 86 1.  After  the  battle  of  Belmont  a  wounded  man, 
with  both  legs  nearly  shot  off,  was  found  in  the  woods  singing 
the  Star  Spangled  Banner  ;  but  for  this  circumstance  the  sur- 
geons say  they  would  not  have  discovered  him.3 

May  22,  1863,  At  the  assault  on  Vicksburg,  the  storming 
party  looked  in  vain  for  the  support  which  had  been  promised 
it.  The  brigade  which  had  been  ordered  to  follow  it,  hesitated 
and  all  but  one  of  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  composing  the 
storming  party  got  discouraged  and  sought  the  shelter  of  a 
deep  ravine.  That  one  hero,  William  Wagden,  a  private  of 
Co.  B.,  8th  Missouri,  the  color  bearer  of  the  storming  party, 
refused  to  retrace  a  single  step.  When  his  comrades  left  him 


1  St.  Louis  Democrat.  3  From  a  newspaper  account  of  the  battle. 

2  Bait.  American ,  July  2,3. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  373 

he  dug  a  hole  in  the  ground  with  his  bayonet,  planted  his  flag 
staff  in  it,  within  twenty  yards  of  the  enemy's  rifle  pits,  and  sat 
down  by  the  side  of  his  banner,  where  he  remained  all  day.1 

At  the  fight  at  Prairie  Grove  (1862-63),  the  color  sergeant 
of  the  iQth  Iowa  regt.,  on  the  retreat  was  killed.  As  he  fell 
Lieut.  Wm.  S.  Brooks,  already  wounded,  received  the  colors. 
The  rebel  colonel  shouted:  "God  d — n  them,  take  their 
colors."  This  enraged  Brooks  and  he  hallooed  back,  "You 
can't  do  it !  "  The  rebels  did  not  dare  to  close,  but  let  go 
a  volley  which  left  nine  holes  in  the  flag  and  eighteen  in 
the  lieutenant's  clothes.  Four  bullets  passed  through  the  cufF 
of  his  shirt  sleeve,  but  they  could  not  wound  the  hand  that 
held  the  dear  old  flag. 

When  Abraham  Lincoln  issued  his  proclamation  January  i, 
1863,  declaring  the  slaves  in  certain  states  and  parts  of  states,  in 
rebellion,  to  be  henceforth  and  forever  free,  the  day  was 
celebrated  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  by  the  entire  negro  population. 
They  marched  through  the  town  in  procession,  numbering  over 
four  thousand  persons,  headed  by  a  band  of  music,  carrying  the 
union  flag  and  cheering  for  the  downfall  of  slavery. 

About  Christmas  time,  1862,  and  just  previous  to  the  defeat 
by  Rosencrantz,  of  the  confederates  at  the  battle  of  Murfrees- 
borough,  that  city  was  the  scene  of  much  gayety.  The  presi- 
dent of  the  confederacy,  JefF.  Davis,  had  come  from  Richmond 
to  counsel,  perhaps  to  invigorate  Bragg.  There  were  wedding 
festivities  at  which  the  bishop  general,  Polk,  officiated,  and 
giddy  confederates  danced  on  floors  carpeted  with  the  American 
flag.  In  the  dreadful  battle,  closing  on  the  3d  of  Jan.,  1863, 
which  followed,  the  confederates  lost  14,700  men.  The  losses 
were  about  one  fourth  of  each  army,  but  the  final  victory  was 
on  the  side  of  our  flag.2 

Amid  the  horrors  of  the  Libby  prison,  the  loyal  soldiers, 
there  confined  in  filth,  negligence  and  beggary,  wretched,  poor 
and  almost  forgotten,  determined  to  have  a  celebration  of  their 
country's  independence  among  themselves.  But  as  they  looked 
around  upon  the  necessities  of  their  condition  they  found  them- 
selves without  a  flag;  and  a  celebration  of  their  country's  inde- 


Report  of  the  Assault.  *  Draper's  History  of  the  Civil  War,  vol.  2,  p    366. 


374  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

pendence  without  a  flag  seemed  impossible.  After  a  while  one 
man  looked  upon  himself  and  said,  "I  have  a  red  shirt;"  and 
another  man  said, "  I  have  a  blue  blouse :"  another  man, "  I  have  a 
white  shirt;"  and  no  sooner  was  it  said  than  they  stripped  them- 
selves and  gave  their  red,  white  and  blue  shirts  to  be  torn  up  into 
strips  and  pinned  together  to  extemporize  their  country's  flag.1 

Parson  Brownlow  kept  our  flag  flying  over  his  house,  at 
Knoxville,  Tennessee,  and  was  the  last  in  the  state  to  take  it 
down.  Two  armed  rebels  went  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning 
to  haul  it  down  and  were  met  on  the  piazza  by  his  daughter,  who 
demanded  their  business.  "To  take  down  that  damned  stars  and 
stripes,"  was  their  rough  reply. 

The  young  lady  instantly  drew  a  revolver  and  said  :  u  Go  on,  I 
am  good  for  one,  and  I  think  for  both  of  you."  "  By  the  looks 
of  this  girl's  eye  she  will  shoot,"  said  one  of  the  rebs  ;  "  we  had 
better  go  and  get  more  men."  "  Go  and  get  nine,"  said  Miss 
Brownlow,  "and  come  and  take  it  if  you  dare."  They  went, 
and  soon  returned  with  a  company  of  ninety  armed  men  ;  but  on 
discovering  that  the  house  was  filled  with  gallant  men  armed  to  the 
teeth,  who  had  rather  die  than  see  their  country's  flag  dishonored, 
the  rebels  thought  it  prudent  to  withdraw  without  accomplishing 
their  object.2 

May  22,  1 86 1.  While  secession  banners  were  waving  at 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  from  every  other  building  both  public  and 
private,  a  Mrs.  McEwin,  placed  the  national  flag  on  her  house 
and  threatened  to  shoot  whoever  attempted  to  pull  it  down.3 

An  Indiana  regiment  was  attacked  by  a  whole  brigade  in  one 
of  the  battles  in  Mississippi ;  unable  to  stand  such  great  odds,  it  was 
compelled  to  fall  back  some  thirty  or  forty  yards,  leaving  their 
flag  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Suddenly  a  tall  Irishman,  private 
in  the  color  company,  rushed  from  the  ranks  across  the  vacant 
ground,  attacked  the  squad  of  rebels  who  had  possession  of  the 
flag,  and  with  his  clubbed  musket  felled  several  to  the  ground, 
snatched  the  flag  from  them,  and  returned  safely  back  to  his 
regiment.  His  captain  made  the  daring  fellow  a  sergeant  on  the 
spot.  "  Say  no  more  about  it  captain,"  said  the  hero,  "  I  dropped 


1  Rev.  Doctor  Tyng's  Address.  2  Chicago  Journal. 

^Louisville  Journal,     The  flag  is  now  in  the  flag  museum  of  the  war  department. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  375 

my  whiskey  flask  among  the  rebels,  and  fetched  that  back,  and  I 
thought  I  might  just  as  well  bring  the  flag  along  too  !" 

A  few  days  after  the  fearful  scene  of  butchery  at  Fort 
Pillow  (April  14,  1864),  it  was  relieved  by  the  play  of 
nobler  sentiments  and  by  the  presence  and  heroic  words  of  a 
brave,  though  heart  broken  woman.  At  Fort  Pickering  a 
regiment  of  United  States  artillery  is  drawn  up  in  perfect  order  ; 
every  face  sober  j  a  high  and  firm  resolve  is  burning  in  many  a 
dark  eye.  Six  paces  in  front  of  the  line  are  standing  fourteen 
hardy  looking,  brave  hearted  men.  They  have  no  commander. 
What  wreck  of  war  is  this  ?  What  waif  floating  on  the  stormy 
ocean  of  civil  strife.  A  lady  clad  in  the  deepest  mourning,  steps 
in  front  of  these  fourteen  survivors.  Many  a  face  shows  by 
the  quivering  lip  and  the  moistening  eye,  how  the  sight  of  that 
bereaved  woman  affects  them.  She  is  the  widow  of  Major 
Booth,  and  these  fourteen  are  all  that  are  alive  of  the  batallion 
he  commanded  at  Fort  Pillow.  -In  her  hand  she  bears  a  regi- 
mental flag,  torn  with  balls,  stained  with  smoke,  and  clotted 
with  human  blood.  Amid  a  silence,  broken  only  by  the  hoarse 
roar  of  the  river  chafing  against  the  banks  below,  she  com- 
mences to  address  them  in  a  voice  low  and  sorrow  broken,  but 
whose  slightest  cadence  reaches  their  hearts. 

"  Boys  !  "  she  says,  "  I  have  just  come  from  a  visit  to  the 
hospital  at  Mound  city.  There  I  saw  your  comrades  wounded 
at  the  bloody  struggle  at  Fort  Pillow.  There  I  found  this  flag, 
you  recognize  it.  One  of  your  comrades  saved  it  from  the  in- 
sulting touch  of  traitors  at  Fort  Pillow.  I  have  given  to  my 
country  all  I  had  to  give  —  my  husband.  Such  a  gift !  Yet  I 
have  freely  given  him  for  freedom  and  my  country.  Next  my 
husband's  cold  remains,  the  dearest  object  left  me  in  the  world 
is  this  flag,  the  flag  that  once  waved  in  proud  defiance  over  the 
works  of  Fort  Pillow.  Soldiers,  this  flag  I  give  you,  knowing 
that  you  will  ever  remember  the  last  words  of  my  noble  hus- 
band — '  Never  surrender  the  flag  to  traitors/  ' 

Colonel  Jackson  received  from  her  hand  the  war-worn  and 
blood-stained  flag.  He  called  upon  the  regiment  to  receive  it 
as  such  a  gift  ought  to  be  received.  Then  he  and  the  whole 
line  fell  upon  their  knees,  and  solemnly  appealing  to  the  God  of 


376  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

battles,  each  one  swore  to  avenge  their  brave  and   fallen  com- 
rades, and  never,  "  never  to  surrender  the  flag  to  traitors." 

The  memory  of  the  scene  can  never  pass  from  before  the 
eyes  of  those  who  witnessed  it.  It  was  no  holiday  presentation, 
no  crowning  of  a  May-queen.  There  stood  the  widow  of 
their  former  commander,  fresh  from  the  grave  of  her  hero-hus- 
band. Above  them  waved  the  old  flag,  enriched  by  a  thousand 
memories,  and  now  consecrated  by  the  baptism  of  blood,  while 
beside  the  spot  where  they  stood  rolled  the  grand  river,  whose 
waters  a  few  days  before  had  been  reddened  with  the  blood  of 
their  comrades.1 

A  School  Girl  tried  by  Court  Martial  for  insulting  the  Star 
Spangled  Banner. — A  court  martial,  of  which  Major  Collin 
Ford,  xooth  United  States  colored  infantry,  was  president,  was 
convened  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  before  which  was  arraigned 
and  tried  Miss  Emma  Latimer  on  a  charge  of  disloyalty,  the 
specification  being  that,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1865,  she  did  tear  down 
and  trample  under  her  feet,  with  intent  to  express  contempt  for  the 
same,  the  American  flag  which  had  been  put  up  in  honor  of  the  anni- 
versary of  the  national  independence  of  the  United  States,  at  the 
house  of  A.  R.  Latimer  in  Edgefield,  Tenn.,  and  did  threaten  if 
it  was  put  up  a  second  time  she  would  tear  it  down  and  burn  it 
up.  She  was  found  guilty  of  the  charges  and  specifications, 
and  sentenced  to  be  confined  in  a  military  prison  for  ninety  days, 
and  to  pay  a  fine  of  three  hundred  dollars  ,•  and  in  default 
of  payment  to  be  further  imprisoned  until  the  whole  fine  was 
satisfied  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars  a  day  for  each  day's  imprison- 
ment. 

Brevet  Major  Gen.  Johnson  approved  the  finding  and  sentence, 
Sept.  24,  1865,  but  in  consideration  of  the  peculiar  circumstances 
of  the  case  he  remitted  the  entire  sentence,  with  this  endorsement : 
"  It  will  be  well  for  Miss  Latimer  to  remember  that  it  will  not  do 
to  trifle  with  the  sacred  emblem  of  our  nationality.  That  in 
spite  of  the  opposition  of  all  the  school  girls  in  the  south,  the 
banner  of  glory  and  beauty  will  still  wave  over  the  land  of  the 
free,  and  notwithstanding  the  united  efforts  of  all  the  rebellious 
women  in  the  country,  will  continue  to  float,  until  time  shall 
cease  to  be,  upon  every  breeze,  the  pride  and  admiration  of  all 


1  Frank  Moore's  Women  of  the  Wary  pages,  310-11. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  377 

thinking  persons.  She  will  be  released  from  confinement  and 
restored  to  her  parents,  with  attention  to  Solomon's  sage  remark  : 
'  he  that  spareth  the  rod  spoileth  the  child.' 

"The  conduct  of  the  prosecuting  witnesses  deserves  a  passing 
remark.  The  testimony  shows  that  they  had  resolved  on 
changing  their  place  of  abode  previous  to  July  4th,  but  agreed 
to  remain  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Latimer  until  after  that  date,  in 
order  to  ensnare  his  little  daughter,  and  get  her  into  trouble. 
Their  first  battle  for  the  flag  was  with  a  thoughtless  school 
girl  !  The  entire  transaction  looks  like  the  work  of  children 
temporarily  removed  from  parental  care."1 

How  our  Flag  was  Restored  to  the  Soil  of  South  Carolina  at  Port 
Royal. —  Commander  John  Rodgers,  in  his  letters  relating  the  oc- 
currence at  Hilton  Head,  Nov.,  1 86 1, says :  "  Commodore  Dupont 
had  kindly  made  me  his  aid.  I  stood  by  him  and  did  little  things 
which  I  suppose  gained  me  credit,  so  when  the  boat  was  sent  in,  to 
ask  whether  they  had  surrendered,  I  was  sent.  I  carried  the  stars 
and  stripes ;  I  found  the  ramparts  utterly  deserted  and  I  planted  the 
American  flag  with  my  own  hands,  first  to  take  possession  in  the 
majesty  of  the  United  States  of  the  rebel  soil  of  South  Carolina." 

A  correspondent  of  The  New  York  W^orld  wrote:  "the  cheers 
that  uprose  on  the  hoisting  of  the  flag  on  Fort  Walker  were 
deafening  ;  the  stentorian  ringing  of  human  voices  would  have 
drowned  the  roar  of  artillery.  The  cheer  was  taken  up  man  by 
man,  ship  by  ship,  regiment  by  regiment.  Such  a  spontaneous 
outburst  of  soldierly  enthusiasm  never  greeted  the  ears  of  Napo- 
leon, amid  the  victories  of  Marengo,  Austerlitz  or  the  pyramids 
of  the  Me." 

The  journal  of  the  U.  S.  S.  Vanderbilt  says  it  was  greeted  with 
deafening  cheers,  and  all  the  bands  as  of  one  accord  struck  up  our 
national  airs. 

The  correspondent  of  The  New  York  Times  wrote  :  "  Another 
and  a  larger  star-spangled  banner  was  afterwards  displayed  upon 
the  flagstaff  of  a  building  a  few  rods  to  the  left,  where  the  rebel 
standard  had  waved  during  the  combat,  and  where  it  had  just  been 
taken  down." 

The  correspondent  of  the  National  Intelligencer  reported  :  "  A 


Published  officially  in  the  Army  and  Navy  Journal,  Oct.'y,    1865. 

48 


378  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

boat  from  the  Wabash  was  seen  making  for  the  shore  with  a 
white  flag  at  the  bow  and  an  American  ensign  at  the  stern.  She 
soon  touched  the  sandy  beach,  and  in  a  moment  after  we  thought 
we  could  discern  our  flag  upon  the  ramparts.  Our  men  could 
not  help  giving  utterance  to  exclamations  of  hopeful  joy  ;  but 
the  less  sanguine  waited  a  few  moments  in  eager  suspense  until 
suddenly,  from  the  roof  of  an  old  mansion  by  the  fort,  a  great 
flag,  that  could  not  be  mistaken,  displayed  the  stars  and  stripes  in 
all  their  glory,  in  beautiful  contrast  with  the  greenwoods  beyond. 
Loud  and  repeated  cheers  rang  from  vessel  to  vessel  throughout 
the  harbor."  x 

The  Story  of  Barbara  Frietcbie. —  The  daring  act  of  displaying 
the  stars  and  stripes  as  the  rebel  army  passed  through  Frederick 
on  the  6th  of  September,  1862,  which  this  nonagenarian  dame 
is  reputed  to  have  performed,  forms  one  of  the  most  charming 
episodes  of  the  rebellion.  Few  Americans  but  have  read  Whit- 
tier's  poem,  which  has  immortalized  her  name  and  the  story. 
In  reply  to  my  letter  inquiring  the  origin  of  the  poem,  Mr. 
Whittier  wrote  me  under  date  lt  Amesbury,  6  mo.  16,  1872. 
"  My  original  informant  was  Mrs.  Southworth,  the  authoress,  of 
Washington.  Soorr  after,  Miss  Dorothea  Dix  visited  the  city  of 
Frederick  and  confirmed  her  statement.  Within  two  years,  a 
nephew  of  B.  F.  visited  me,  with  full  confirmation  of  the  hero- 
ism of  his  relative  and  I  have  no  doubt  the  main  facts  of  the 
story  are  true." 

The  story  as  told  by  Mr.  Whittier  has  been  doubted.  One 
lady,  over  her  own  signature,  claimed  to  have  performed  the 
same  or  a  similar  daring  act,  and  a  correspondent  of  the  Army 
and  Navy  Journal  furnishes  the  following,  as  the  true  story  of 
Barbara's  deed. 

u  The  true  story  is  based  upon  facts  which  by  poetic  fancy  has 
been  intensified  into  this  poem.  Old  Barbara  was  both  brave 
and  patriotic.  During  the  passage  of  the  rebels  through  the 
town,  she  is  said  to  have  had  a  very  small  flag  inside  of  one  of 
her  windows,  which  she  refused  to  give  up  on  the  demand  of 


1  A  letter  from  an  officer  on  board  the  Pocahontas  at  Port  Royal,  says,  "  a  shot 
from  our  10  inch  put  a  hole  in  their  stars  and  bars,  another  took  down  the  flagstaff  j 
but  the  confederates  ran  another  up  pretty  quickly,  but  it  was  a  doomed  piece  of  bunt- 
ing. The  Forbes  fired  with  her  rifled  gun,  and  the  ball  catching  the  flag  wound  it 
around  and  carried  it  off  into[the  woods." — Rebellion  Record,  in,  p.  114. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  379 

an  officer  or  soldier.  One  day,  returning  from  a  walk,  she  found 
her  steps  occupied  by  a  large  number  of  rebel  soldiers,  to  whom, 
using  her  cane  with  some  energy,  the  old  dame  cried  out, 
"  Clear  out,  you  dirty,  lousy  scoundrels."  When  our  troops 
entered  Frederick,  she  was  at  the  window  waving  a  flag.  A 
general,  said  to  have  been  General  Reno,  raising  his  cap  and 
reining  in  his  horse  asked  :  "How  old  is  grandmother  ?"  Some 
one  at  the  window  mentioned  her  age  (over  ninety),  when  he 
cried  :  "  Three  cheers  for  the  loyal  old  grandmother."  They 
were  lustily  given  and  the  column  moved  on. 

Mrs.  Frietchie  was  a  stout  hearted,  patriotic,  Christian  woman, 
and  it  was  not  her  fault  that  she  did  not  do  all  attributed  to  her. 
Her  house  is  a  quaint,  but  exceedingly  attractive,  old  fashioned, 
steep  roofed  little  structure,  with  curious  rear  buildings,  imme- 
diately on  the  banks  of  Carroll's  run,  a  little  stream  which  flows 
through  Frederick  city.  In  the  slope  of  the  roof  which  looks 
towards  the  street,  are  two  attic  dormer  windows,  from  one  of 
which,  Barbara  displayed  her  flag.  This,  the  true  story  of 
Barbara's  achievement,  was  obtained  from  a  gentleman  who  knew 
the  old  woman  well,  possessed  her  autograph  and  had  every 
opportunity  for  knowing  the  truth."1 

In  1869,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Quantrill  wrote  to  the  Washington 
Star  claiming  for  herself  the  praise  and  honor  which  has  been 
awarded  to  old  grandmother  Frietchie  for  displaying  the  stars 
and  stripes  to  the  rebel  forces.  We  will  allow  her  to  tell  her  story 
in  her  own  words.  She  says  :  "  By  the  setting  of  the  sun  on  the 
eve  of  Sept.  6,  1862,  a  stranger  might  have  paused  in  the  streets 
of  Frederick,  and  asked,  'what  change  has  come  over  the 
spirit '  of  this  city  ?  Not  a  flag  was  to  be  seen  ;  not  a  citizen 
upon  its  streets  ;  the  pulse  of  business  (never  very  strong),  had 
almost  ceased  to  beat ;  and  as  friend  met  friend,  they  whispered 
with  white  lips  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  It  was  true. 
General  Robert  Lee,  at  the  head  of  the  confederate  army,  was 
marching  on  Frederick,  left  in  the  main  with  its  women  and 
children  (I  speak  of  the  loyal  portion),  to  the  mercy  of  the  chiv- 
alrous enemy.  General  Stonewall  Jackson  entered  the  city  on 
Saturday,  the  6th  of  September,  and  General  Longstreet,  on  the 
following  Monday,  came  in  with  the  remaining  forces. 

Army  and  Navy  Journal,  for  July  20,  1867. 


380  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

"  The  morning  of  the  loth  the  scene  presented  was  truly  war- 
like. Day  dawned  upon  marching  columns  of  infantry,  cavalry 
and  artillery,  wending  their  way  to  South  mountain  and  An- 
tietam.  Onward  they  pressed,  presenting  little  variety,  except- 
ing that  national  flags  were  tied  to  the  horses'  tails,  and  trailed 
through  the  streets,  as  a  warning  to  unionists  of  what  might  occur 
thereafter.  Seated  at  my  door,  I  had  been  a  silent  observer  of  the 
morning's  pageant.  It  may  be  well  to  state  here,  although  I  had 
not  the  acquaintance  of  a  solitary  confederate  soldier,  save  those 
who  had  been  my  neighbors,  the  house  where  the  United  States 
flag  floated  under  more  friendly  auspices,  was  known  to  many. 
Music  was  swelling,  the  stars  and  bars  were  waving,  and  as  I 
gazed  upon  brave  men  enduring  every  degree  of  danger  and 
suffering  for  what  they  called  their  rights,  my  reverie  was  inter- 
rupted by  the  sudden  halt  of  a  subordinate  officer  before  my 
door,  who  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  UG  —  d  —  the  stars 
and  stripes  to  the  dust,  with  all  who  advocate  them  !"  The  hero 
was  borne  off  by  the  dense  throng,  but  the  insult  admitted  of 
no  second  thought.  The  flag  of  my  country,  sacred  to  the 
memory  of  my  grandsires,  and  to  the  best  men  of  revolutionary 
history,  damned  to  the  dust  ?  It  was  too  much.  My  little  daugh- 
ter, who  had  been  enjoying  her  flaglet  secretly,  at  this  moment 
came  to  the  door,  and,  taking  it  from  her  hand,  I  held  it  firmly 
in  my  own,  but  not  a  word  was  spoken.  Soon  a  bright  spot  in 
this  motley  mass  was  visible.  A  splendid  carriage,  accompanied 
by  elegantly  mounted  officers,  evidently  the  flower  of  the  army, 
was  approaching.  As  they  came  near  the  house  they  caught 
the  glimpse  of  the  tiny  flag,  and  exclaimed  :  '  See,  see  !  the 
flag,  the  stars  and  stripes  ! 'and,  with  true  chivalry,  hats  were 
removed  and  courtesies  were  offered  the  bearer,  but  not  to  her 
standard.  They  had  advanced  some  paces  when  a  halt  was 
ordered,  and  soon  a  lady  XT- then  Miss  Martha  Sinn,  since  Mrs. 
Jas.  Arnold  —  of  Frederick,  standing  near  other  ladies  of  the 
neighborhood,  admonished  me  to  fly  with  my  colors.  I  did  not, 
however,  move,  until  an  officer  from  the  company  rode  up, 
and  the  following  remarks  were  exchanged  : 

Officer  —  Madam,  give  me  your  flag. 

Answer  —  No,  sir,  you  can't  have  it. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  881 

Officer  —  Give  me  your  flag  to  present  to  General  Lee. 

Answer — General  Lee  cannot  have  my  flag. 

Officer  — Why  ? 

Answer  —  I  think  it  worthy  of  a  better  cause. 

Officer  —  Your  flag  has  been  dishonored. 

Answer  —  Only  by  the  cause  you  have  espoused. 

Officer  (regarding  me  sternly)  —  Come  down  south,  and  we 
will  show  you  whole  negro  brigades  equipped  for  the  service  of 
the  United  States. 

Answer  —  I  am  informed  on  that  subject. 

"  Here  a  brother  officer  warned  him  of  the  value  of  time,  and 
urged  a  return,  which  was  accordingly  made.  The  confederate 
soldier  said,  the  officer  who  asked  for  the  flag  was  General  Hill. 

"  I  remained  resting  the  staff  of  my  flaglet  on  the  railing  of 
the  porch,  when  a  soldier,  who  had  heard  the  remarks,  stepped 
behind  me,  and  with  his  bayonet  cut  off  my  staff  close  to  my 
hand.  The  report  resembled  that  of  a  pistol,  and  turning  about 
I  saw  him  tear  my  flag  into  pieces,  and  stamp  them  in  the  dust. 
I  pronounced  this  the  act  of  a  coward.  Among  the  young  la- 
dies present,  was  Miss  Mary  Hopwood,  daughter  of  a  well 
known  union  citizen  of  Frederick.  Seeing  my  flag  cut  down, 
she  drew  a  concealed  flaglet  from  her  sleeve  and  supplied  its 
place.  In  another  instant  the  second  flag  was  cut  down  by  the 
same  man.  As  soon  as  the  information  was  conveyed  to  the 
officers,  one  man,  more  advanced  in  years  than  either  of  those 
already  referred  to,  came  back  to  the  spot  and  reproved  in  sharp 
language  the  man  who  cut  down  my  flags. 

Mrs.  Barbara  Frietchie  J  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  people 
of  Frederick  city,  and  the  ladies  generally  are  second  to  none 
for  their  devotion  to  the  cause  of  our  country. 

"  MARY  A.  QUANTRILL. 

"  Washington  city,  (D.  C.),  February  9,  1869." 

1  Lossing  in  his  Civil  War  (vol.  n,  page  466),  has  a  portrait  of  Barabara  Frietchie  and 
a  representation  of  her  house  which  he  drew  in  1866,  and  where,  he  says,  she 
lived  until  her  death  which  occurred  June,  1864.  It  was  close  to  a  bridge  which 
spans  the  stream  that  crosses  through  Frederick.  Lossing's  version  of  the  story  is  that 
when  Stonewall  Jackson  marched  through  the  town,  his  troops  passed  over  that 
bridge.  "  He  had  been  informed  that  many  national  flags  were  flying  in  that  city 
and  he  gave  orders  for  them  all  to  be  hauled  down.  Patriotic  Barbara's  was  displayed 
from  one  of  the  dormer  windows  of  her  house.  Her  flag  was  pulled  down." 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Mr.  Whittier,  in  reply  to  Mrs.  Quantrill,  wrote  the  editor 
of  the  Washington  Star. 

"  To  the  Editor  of  the  Star  —  I  have  received  a  copy  of  thy 
paper,  containing  a  letter  from  a  lady  who  claims  to  have  been 
the  heroine  of  the  flag  at  Frederick.  I  have  never  heard  of  her 
before,  and,  of  course,  know  nothing  of  her  veracity  or  loyalty. 
I  must  say,  however,  in  justice  to  myself,  that  I  have  full  con- 
fidence in  the  truth  of  the  original  statement  furnished  me  by  a 
distinguished  literary  lady  of  Washington  [Mrs.  Southworth], 
as  respects  Barbara  Frietchie  —  a  statement  soon  after  confirmed 
by  Dorothea  Dix,  who  visited  Frederick,  and  made  herself  ac- 
quainted with  many  interesting  particulars  of  the  life  and  char- 
acter of  that  remarkable  woman. 

"  Very  truly,  thy  friend, 

"  JOHN  G.  WHITTIER. 

"  Amesbury,  igth  2d  mo.,  1869." 

The  editor  remarks  :  "  Mr.  Whittier  gives  good  reason  for 
his  faith  in  Barbara  Frietchie,  but  as  there  is  no  doubt,  from  the 
testimony  of  at  least  four  witnesses,  that  Mrs.  Quantrill's  claim  is 
well  founded,  there  seems  to  be  considerable  mystification  in  the 
matter."  Probably  the  true  solution  is  that  both  these  brave 
union  women  displayed  their  patriotism  and  their  courage  in 
the  same  way  on  the  same  occasion.  The  true  story  as  told 
by  the  correspondent  of  the  Army  and  Navy  'Journal  seems  to 
furnish  a  clew  toward  solving  the  question.  Barbara  raised 
her  flag  and  was  honored  for  it  by  a  union  general  as  our  troops 
passed  through  Fredrick,  and  Mrs.  Quantrill  displayed  her  flaglet, 
as  she  calls  it,  when  the  rebels  marched  through. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  383 

SOUTHERN   FLAGS  IN  THE  GREAT  REBELLION. 
1860-1865. 

As  in  the  non-seceding  states  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  re- 
bellion there  was  a  universal  and  patriotic  display  of  union 
banners,  so  each  of  the  seceding  states  made  haste  to  desecrate 
and  insult  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  display  banners  with  strange 
devices  as  emblems  of  their  state  soveregnity. 

After  a  little  while,  in  defiance  of  the  very  principles  of  seces- 
sion, these  state  flags  were,  as  in  the  loyal  north,  made  subordi- 
nate to  a  general  union  flag  established  by  the  rebellion  confederacy. 

On  the  adjourning  of  the  South  Carolina  legislature  which 
had  provided  for  a  convention,  on  the  I3th  of  November  1860, 
only  a  few  days  after  the  election  of  Lincoln  was  ascertained, 
the  members  were  honored  in  the  evening  with  a  torch  light 
procession  in  the  streets  of  Columbia.  The  old  banner  of  the 
union  was  taken  down  from  the  State  House  and  the  Palmetto 
flag  unfurled  in 'its  place;  and  it  was  boastfully  declared  that 
the  old  ensign,  the  detested  rag  of  the  union  should  never  again 
float  in  the  free  air  of  South  Carolina. 

Four  days  later,  the  iyth  of  November,  was  a  gala  day  in 
Charleston.  A  pine  liberty  pole  ninety  feet  in  height  was 
erected  and  a  Palmetto  flag  was  unfurled  from  its  top.  The  flag 
was  white  with  a  green  palmetto  tree  in  the  middle,  and  bore 
the  motto  of  South  Carolina;  ANIMIS  OPIBUSQUE  PARATI  : 
that  is  "prepared  in  mind  and  resources  ready  to  give  life  and  pro- 
perty.  " 

The  raising  of  this  flag  was  greeted  with  the  roar  of  cannon  a 
hundred  times  repeated,  and  the  Marseillaise  Hymn  by  a  band  ; 
then  followed  the  Miserere,  from  II  Trovatore,  played  as  a  re- 
quiem for  the  departed  union.  Full  twenty  thousand  people 
are  said  to  have  participated  in  this  inauguration  of  revolution, 
and  the  Rev.  C.  P.  Gadsden  invoked  the  blessing  of  God  upon 
their  acts.  These  ceremonies  were  followed  by  speeches  (some 
from  northern  men  temporarily  in  Charleston,  in  which  the  peo- 
ple were  addressed  as  citizens  of  the  southern  republic.  Proces- 


384  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

sions  filled  the  streets,  bearing  from  square  to  square  many  ban- 
ners with  significant  inscriptions,  such  as,-  "South  Carolina  goes  it 
alone ;"  "  God,  liberty  and  the  state  ;"  "  South  Carolina  wants  no 
stripes;"  "Stand  to  your  arms  Palmetto  boys;"  "Huzza  for  the 
southern  confederacy  ;"  "  Now  or  never  strike  for  independence ;" 
"Goodbye  Yankee  Doodle;"  "Death  to  all  abolitionists  5"  "Let 
us  bury  the  union's  dead  carcass  ;"  etc. 

No  union  flag  was  to  be  seen  upon  any  staff  in  the  harbor,  for 
vigilance  committees,  assuming  police  powers,  had  already  been 
formed  to  prevent  any  such  lingering  display  of  loyalty.  x 

Back  of  the  president's  chair,  of  the  South  Carolina  conven- 
tion which  adopted  the  ordinances  of  secession,  was  a  banner 
composed  of  cotton  cloth,  with  devices  painted  by  a  Charleston 
artist  named  Alexander.  The  base  of  the  design  was  a  mass  of 
broken  and  disordered  blocks  of  stone,  on  each  of  which  were 
the  name  and  arms  of  the  free  states.  Rising  from  this  mass 
were  two  columns  of  perfect  and  symmetrical  blocks  of  stone, 
connected  by  an  arch  of  the  same  material,  on  each  of  which, 
fifteen  in  number,  were  the  name  and  coat  of  arms  of  a  slave 
state.  South  Carolina,  foremost  in  the  treason,  forms  the  key- 
stone of  the  arch,  on  which  stood  Powers's  statue  of  Calhoun, 
leaning  upon  the  trunk  of  a  palmetto  tree  and  displaying  to 
spectators  a  scroll  inscribed,  "  Truth^  Justice  and  the  Constitution" 
On  one  side  of  Calhoun,  was  a  figure  of  Faith,  and  on  the  other 
side  one  of  Hope.  Beyond  these,  on  each  side,  was  the  figure 
of  an  Indian  armed  with  a  rifle.  In  the  space  between  the  col- 
umns, and  under  the  arch,  was  the  device  of  the  seal  and  flag  of 
South  Carolina,  namely  a  palmetto  tree  with  a  rattlesnake  coiled 
around  its  trunk,  and  at  its  base  a  park  of  cannon  and  emblems 
of  the  state's  commerce.  On  a  scroll,  fluttering  from  the  trunk 
of  the  tree,  were  the  words  :  Southern  Republic.  Over  the  whole 
design,  on  the  segment  of  a  circle,  were  fifteen  stars  ;  the  number 
of  the  slave  states  and  underneath  all,  "  Built  from  the  Ruins." 
The  banner  was  intended  as  a  menace  and  a  prophecy.  In 
1 865,  this  banner  was  in  the  possession  of  John  S.  H.  Fogg,  M.D., 
of  Boston,  a  drawing  of  it  is  given  in  Lossing's  Civil  War* 

1  Lossing's  Civil  War. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  385 

The  fatal  ordinance  of  secession  having  passed  the  South  Caro- 
lina convention  December  19, 1860,  was  welcomed  in  the  streets 
by  the  firing  of  cannon,  the  ringing  of  bells,  and  other  demon- 
strations of  joy.  The  state  had  become  a  free  and  independent 
nation.  A  procession  of  gentlemen  repaired  to  St.  Philip's 
church  yard,  and  encircling  the  tomb  of  Calhoun,  made  solemn 
obeisance  before  it,  vowing  to  devote  their  lives,  their  fortunes, 
and  their  sacred  honor,  to  Carolinian  independence.  The  side- 
walks were  crowded  with  ladies  wearing  secession  bonnets  made 
of  black  and  white  Georgia  cotton,  decorated  with  ornaments 
of  palmetto  trees  and  lone  stars.  In  the  frenzy  of  their  enthu- 
siastic, misdirected  patriotism,  they  surpassed  the  men.  At  the 
signing  the  ordinance,  a  ceremony  declared  to  be  profoundly  grand 
and  impressive,  a  venerable  clergyman  whose  hair  was  white  as 
snow  implored  the  favoring  auspices  of  heaven.1 

The  governor,  Mr.  Pickens,  was  authorized  to  receive  am- 
bassadors, consuls,  etc.,  from  abroad  ;  to  appoint  similar  offi- 
cers to  represent  South  Carolina  in  foreign  countries,  and  to 
organize  a  cabinet. 

A  banner  of  red  silk  was  adopted.  It  bore  a  blue  cross,  on 
which  were  set  fifteen  stars  for  the  fifteen  slaveholding  states  : 
one  of  them,  central  and  larger  than  the  rest,  represented  South 
Carolina.  On  a  red  field,  was  a  palmetto  and  crescent.2  Polkas 
and  the  Marsellaise  hymn  were  played  in  the  streets.  The 
Charleston  newspapers  published  intelligence  from  other  parts  of 
the  United  States  under  the  title  of  Foreign  News. 

Several  of  our  national  airs  were  struck  from  the  music  books 
in  South  Carolina,  and  replaced  by  revolutionary  melodies  of 
France,  with  the  necessary  variations  to  suit  the  change  of 
place,  etc.3 

On  the  2 ist  of  Dec.,  1860,  there  was  a  general  demon- 
stration of  joy  at  New  Orleans  over  the  secession  of  South 
Carolina.  One  hundred  guns  were  fired  and  the  Pelican  flag 
unfurled.  The  southern  Marsellaise  was  sung,  as  the  flag4  was 
raised,  amid  reiterated  and  prolonged  cheers  for  South  Carolina 
and  Louisiana. 


*  Draper,  vol.  I,  p.  515.  3  Newspaper  statement. 

2  Lossing's  Civil  War.  *  Nat.  Intelligencer,  Dec.  25th. 

49 


386  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

A  month  later,  on  the  2ist  of  January,  the  legislature  of  Louis- 
iana convened  at  Baton  Rouge,  when  a  flag  with  fifteen  stars, 
representing  the  number  of  the  slave  states,  was  raised  over  the 
dome  of  the  Capitol.  The  convention  met  at  the  same  place  two 
days  later  (23d),  and  on  the  26th  adopted  the  ordinance  of  seces- 
sion, by  a  vote  of  113  ayes  to  17  noes.  When  the  result  was 
made  known  President  Mouton  arose,  with  great  solemnity  of  man- 
ner and  said :  "  in  virtue  of  the  vote  just  announced,  I  now  de- 
clare the  connection  between  the  state  of  Louisiana  and  the 
federal  union  dissolved,  and  that  she  is  a  free,  sovereign  and  in- 
dependent power."  Then  Governor  Moore  entered  the  hall 
with  a  military  officer  bearing  a  Pelican  flag.  This  was  placed 
in  the  hands  of  President  Mouton,  while  the  spectators  and 
delegates,  swayed  with  excitement,  cheered  vehemently.  When 
all  became  quiet,  a  solemn  prayer  was  offered  and  the  flag  was 
blessed  according  to  the  rites  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church 
by  Father  Hubert.1 

At  a  later  day  a  committee  of  the  convention  having  in 
charge  the  subject  of  a  state  flag  did  not  approve  of  the  pelican 
as  the  symbol  of  Louisiana,  and  reported  the  pelican  as  a  bird 
"  in  form  unsightly,  in  habits  filthy,  in  nature  cowardly."  And 
also  that  they  learned  to  their  amazement  from  Audubon  :  "  that 
the  story  of  the  pelican  feeding  its  young  with  its  own  blood  is 
gammon.  They  therefore  did  not  recommend  this  waterfowl 
as  a  fit  subject  for  their  flag,  but  rather  one  of  loathing  and 
contumely." 

Subsequently  the  convention  adopted  as  the  flag  of  Louisiana, 
a  flag  of  thirteen  stripes,  four  blue,  six  white  and  three  red,  com- 
mencing at  the  top  with  the  colors  as  written.  The  union  was 
red,  with  its  sides  equal  to  the  width  of  seven  stripes  ;  in  its 
centre  was  a  single,  pale  yellow,  five  pointed  star.2 

This  was  the  flag  which  was  hoisted  on  the  City  Hall  at 
New  Orleans  when  Farragut  appeared  before  that  city  April 
25,  1862.  — [See  plate  ix.] 

Two  days  after  the  Pelican  flag  was  raised  at  New  Orleans, 


1  Journal  of  the  Convention. 

2  General  Beauregard's  letter  to  G.  H.  P.,  Feb.  3,  1872.-  The  significance  of  the 
devices  of  this  flag  are  not  apparent,  and  in  beauty  it  was  far  inferior  to  the  old  na- 
tional ensign. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  387 

on  the  22d  of  December,  1860,  a  secession  flag  pole  one  hun- 
dred feet  high,  rivaling  the  celebrated  gallows  of  Haman,  was 
erected  at  Petersburg,  Virginia,  amid  the  cheers  of  the  people, 
and  a  Palmetto  flag  hoisted  upon  it.  Some  unknown  union 
patriot  however  during  the  night  sawed  down  the  pole  and  carried 
off  the  flag.1  A  week  later  viz.,  Dec.  28th,  the  Palmetto  flag 
was  raised  over  the  Custom  House  and  Post  Office  at  Charleston, 
S.  C.,  and  upon  Forts  Moultrie  and  Pinckney,  and  on  the  ist  of 
Jan.,  1861,  the  Palmetto  guard  held  possession  of  the  United 
States  Arsenal  under  the  Palmetto  flag.  Capt.  Me  Gowan,  re- 
porting the  firing  upon  his  vessel,  the  Star  of  the  West,  on  the 
9th  of  January,  by  a  masked  battery  on  Morris'  island,  believed 
to  be  the  first  instance  in  the  history  of  our  flag  having  been  so 
insulted  by  our  own  people,  mentions  that  a  red  Palmetto  flag 
was  flying  over  the  battery  when  it  opened  its  fire.  These  Pal- 
metto flags  were  of  various  shape,  color  and  material.  There 
is  now  in  the  museum  of  the  naval  library  and  institute  at  the 
Boston  navy  yard,  a  large  white  flag,  made  of  bunting,  which 
seems  to  have  seen  some  service.  In  the  centre  of  the  field 
there  is  a  blue  palmetto  tree,  among  the  leaves  of  which,  are  two 
white  crescents  or  half  moons.  Surrounding  this  device  is  a 
blue  ring,  three  or  four  inches  in  width,  on  which  is  wrought 
in  white  silk,  a  star  and  the  legend  "  South  Carolina."  The  his- 
tory of  this  flag  is  not  known  (see  plate  ix). 

In  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  flag  museum  of  the  war  depart- 
ment at  Washington,  is  displayed  what  is  said  to  have  been  the 
first  flag  that  waved  over  Charleston  in  1861,  and  in  fact  the 
first  secession  flag  raised  in  the  confederacy.  It  is  a  perfect 
caricature.  The  material  is  of  dull  white  bunting,  with  a  very 
lame  representation  of  a  palmetto  tree  sewed  in  the  centre.  It 
has  eight  branches  but  no  leaves,  and  looks  more" like  a  huge 
spider  than  any  thing  under  the  sun.  It  is  surrounded  by  eleven 
red  stars  and  a  red  moon  just  rising.  It  was  used  at  Forts  Sum- 
ter  and  Moultrie  and  in  the  fortifications  around  Charleston. 

On  the  passage  of  the  Alabama  ordinance  of  secession,  Dec., 
1860,  an  immense  mass  meeting  was  held  in  front  of  the  Capitol 
at  Montgomery,  and  a  secession  flag  (the  devices  of  which  are 


1  N.  T.  Daily  News,  Dec.  24. 


388  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

not  given),  presented  by  the  women  of  Montgomery,  was  raised 
on  the  State  House;  salutes  were  fired  and  in  the  evening  the 
town  illuminated.  At  Mobile,  on  the  reception  of  the  news,  an 
immense  crowd  assembled  at  the  secession  pole,  at  the  foot  of 
Government  street,  to  witness  the  spreading  of  the  southern  flag 
and  it  was  run  up  amid  the  shouts  of  the  multitude  and  the 
thunder  of  cannon.  The  crowd  then  repaired  in  procession  to 
the  United  States  Custom  House  with  a  band  of  music  playing 
the  southern  Marseillaise  and  a  lone  star  flag  was  waved  amid 
enthusiastic  shouts.  In  the  fireworks  and  illuminations  of  the 
ensuing  evening  the  southern  cross,  was  a  favored  emblematic 
pattern,  and  gleaming  in  lines  of  fire  competed  with  the  oft 
repeated  Lone  Star.1 

In  the  Virginia  convention  an  ordinance  was  passed  that  the 
flag  of  the  commonwealth  of  Virginia  should  hereafter  be  bunt- 
ing "  which  shall  be  a  deep  blue  field  with  a  circle  of  white 
in  the  centre,  upon  which  shall  be  painted  or  embroidered,  to 
show  both  sides  alike,  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  state  as  described 
by  the  convention  of  1776,  for  one  side  of  the  seal  of  the  state 
viz.:  "  Virtus,  the  genius  of  the  commonwealth  dressed  like  an 
amazon,  resting  upon  a  spear  with  one  hand,  and  holding  a 
sword  in  the  other,  and  treading  on  Tyranny  represented  by  a 
man  prostrate,  a  crown  fallen  from  his  head,  a  broken  chain  in 
his  left  hand,  and  a  scourge  in  his  right.  In  the  exergue,  the 
word  VIRGINIA  over  the  head  of  Virtus,  and  underneath  the 
words  Sic  Semper  Tyrannis." 

The  flag  which  was  thrown  to  the  breeze  from  the  flagstaff* 
of  the  state  Capitol  of  Georgia,  when  an  artillery  salute  an- 
nounced that  the  ordinance  of  secession  was  adopted,  bore  the 
device  of  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  state,  viz,  the  arch  of  the  con- 
stitution, supported  by  the  three  pillars  of  WISDOM,  JUSTICE 
and  MODERATION,  on  a  white  field.  The  flags 'used  by  the 
state  troops  during  the  war  bore  the  same  device,  with  the 
names  of  the  regiments  on  the  reverse.  These  were  the  state 


1  The  constellation  of  the  southern  cross,  cannot  be  seen  anywhere  within  the 
boundaries  of  the  southern  states.  An  Alabama  state  flag  originally  of  white, 
having  on  one  side  the  state  arms  and  motto,  and  on  the  other,  surmounted  by  seven 
stars  linked  together,  a  scroll  inscribed  :  "  OUR  HOMES,  OUR  RIGHTS,  WE  ENTRUST  TO 
YOUR  KEEPING  BRAVE  SONS  OF  ALABAMA,"  is  preserved  in  the  war  museum  at 
Washington 


FLAG  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES.  389 

flags  before  as  well  as  during  the  war.  No  state  secession  flag 
was  adopted  by  Georgia.1  In  the  flag  museum  at  Washington 
there  is  a  stars  and  bars  flag,  with  the  Georgia  coat  of  arms  in 
the  centre  of  the  union  surrounded  by  silver  stars,  and  beneath 
a  scroll  inscribed  on  one  side,  "  Presented  by  the  Ladies  of 
Henry,"  on  the  other,  "Lackey  Rangers.  Victory  or  Death." 

The  flag  adopted  by  the  state  convention  of  North  Carolina, 
May  26,  1 86 1,  consisted  of  a  perpendicular  red  bar  next  the 
staff,  in  width  one-third  the  length  of  the  flag,  the  flag  being  di- 
vided equally  in  two  horizontal  bars,  white  and  blue,  the  white 
in  chief.  The  centre  of  the  red  bar  was  charged  with  a  large, 
white,  five  pointed  star,  and  above  and  beneath  it,  in  white  let- 
ters, the  inscription,  MAY  20,  1775,  MAY  20,  1861.  The 
dates  of  the  Mechlenburg  declaration  of  independence  and  of 
the  state  ordinance  of  secession. 

A  flag  of  this  description  captured  from  the  Thirty-fifth 
North  Carolina  Volunteers,  is  preserved  in  the  Washington 
museum.  After  the  naval  battle  at  Hatteras  inlet,  July  30,  1861, 
Lieutenant  Bankhead,  of  the  Susquehanna,  visited  the  forts  and 
brought  off  two  flags  as  trophies.  One  was  a  color  standard 
made  of  very  heavy  twilled  silk,  fringed  with  gold.  The  colors 
were  red  and  white,  the  union  blue  having  a  gilt  star  on  each 
side.  One  of  the  sides  was  inscribed  "  Presented  by  the  ladies 
of  Shiloh,  Camden  Co.,  to  the  North  Carolina  defenders." 
Over  the  star  was  May  20,  1775,  underneath,  May  20,  1861. 
The  letters  and  star  were  gold  gilt  and  beautifully  executed. 
The  other  star  flag  bore  the  following  inscription  "  Independent 
Greys,  August  I,  1859,"  tne  uni°n  na<3  nine  stars.2 

Early  in  February,  1 86 1 ,  a  convention  of  six  seceding  states  viz., 
South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  and 
Florida,  assembled  at  Montgomery,  Alabama.  These  states  were 
represented  by  forty-two  delegates.  Jefferson  Davis  of  Missis- 
sippi was  elected  president  and  Alexander  H.  Stephens  of  Georgia 
vice  president  of  these  confederated  states  of  America  for  the  cur- 
rent year. 

While  the  committee  had  the  matters  of  a  permanent  govern- 

1  Manuscript  letter  of  Wm.  T.  Thompson,  editor  of  the  Savannah  Daily  Morning 
News. 

2  Barren's  Cruise  of  the  United  States  Steamer  Susquchannah,  1860-63. 


390  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

ment  under  consideration,  the  convention  discussed  the  import- 
ant subject  of  a  national  flag.  Various  devices  were  presented. 
The  designers  of  these,  in  many  instances,  were  patriotic  ladies, 
who  mistook  the  delusive  calm  of  the  moment  for  the  token  of 
permanent  peace.  Not  without  emotion  do  we  remark  that 
many  of  these  designs  were  modifications  of  the  grand  old  flag 
that  had  streamed  forth  triumphantly  through  the  smoke  of  many 
a  battle. 

On  the  gth  of  February,  Mr.  Memminger  presented  to  the 
convention  a  flag  sent  by  some  of  the  young  ladies  of  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  as  a  model  flag  for  the  confederate  states  ;  the 
device  was  composed  of  a  blue  cross  on  a  red  field,  with  six  white, 
five  pointed  stars  or  mullets  blazoned  on  the  cross.  At  the 
same  time  he  presented  another,  from  a  gentleman,  which  had  fif- 
teen stars  within  a  cross,1  but  the  cross  upon  a  different  ground. 
On  presenting  these  flags  Mr.  Memminger  said  : 
"  Now,  Mr.  President,  the  idea  of  union,  no  doubt,  was  sug- 
gested to  the  imagination  of  the  young  ladies  by  the  beauteous 
constellation  of  the  southern  cross,  which  the  great  Creator  has 
placed  in  the  southern  heavens,  by  way  of  compensation  for  the 
glorious  constellation  at  the  north  pole.  The  imagination  of 
the  young  ladies  was,  no  doubt,  inspired  by  the  genius  of  Dante 
and  the  scientific  skill  of  Humboldt.  But  sir,  I  have  no  doubt 
that  there  was  another  idea  associated  with  it  in  the  minds  of 
the  young  ladies,  a  religious  one,  and  although  we  have  not  seen 
in  the  heavens  the  '  In  hoc  signo  vincesj  written  upon  the  Labur- 
num of  Constantine,  yet  the  same  sign  has  been  manifested  to 
us  upon  the  tablets  of  the  earth  ;  for  we  all  know  that  it  has 
been  by  the  aid  of  revealed  religion  that  we  have  achieved  over 
fanaticism  the  victory  which  we  this  day  witness  ;  and  it  is 
becoming,  on  this  occasion,  that  the  debt  of  the  south  to  the  cross 
should  be  thus  recognized.  I  have  also,  Mr.  President,  a  com- 

1  About  this  time  The  Neiu  Tork  Herald,  on  the  authority  of  a  correspondent,  pub- 
lished a  rude  representation  of  what  purported  to  be  the  flag  of  the  southern  confede- 
racy, and  which  was  probably  the  flag  above  referred  to,  and  said  to  have  been  adopted 
by  South  Carolina  one  week  after  that  state  adopted  the  secession  ordinance.  This 
flag  (See  Plate  ix),  was  a  red  flag  charged  with  a  blue  latin  cross.  The  cross  bla- 
zoned with  fifteen  stars,  the  centre  star  for  South  Carolina  being  larger  than  the  rest  5 
a  white  palmetto  tree,  and  white  crescent  in  the  upper  canton  of  the  flag  next  the 
staff".  Lossing  in  his  Civil  War,  says  this  banner,  for  a  new  empire,  was  adopted  on  the 
very  day  the  ordinance  of  secession  passed  the  South  Carolina  convention. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  391 

mission  from  a  gentleman  of  taste  and  skill  in  the  city  of  Charles- 
ton, who  offers  another  model,  which  embraces  the  same  idea  of 
a  cross,  but  upon  a  different  ground.  The  gentleman  who  offers 
this  model  appears  to  be  more  hopeful  than  the  young  ladies. 
They  offer  one  with  seven  stars,  six  for  the  states  already  repre- 
sented in  this  congress,  and  the  seventh  for  Texas,  whose  de- 
puties we  hope  will  soon  be  on  their  way  to  join  us.  He  offers 
a  flag  which  embraces  the  whole  fifteen  states.  God  grant  that 
his  hope  may  soon  be  realized,  and  that  we  may  soon  welcome 
their  stars  to  the  glorious  constellation  of  southern  confederacy." 
These  remarks  were  highly  applauded,  and  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  one  delegate  from  each  state,  was  appointed  to  report 
upon  a  device  for  a  national  flag  and  seal.  Mr.  Brooke,  of 
Mississippi,  offered  a  resolution  to  instruct  the  committee  to  re- 
port a  design  for  a  flag  as  similar  as  possible  to  that  of  the 
United  States,  making  only  such  changes  as  should  give  them 
distinction.  In  his  speech  he  talked  with  the  fervor  of  a  patriot 
of  the  associations  which  clustered  around  the  old  ensign,  as- 
sociations which  could  never  be  effaced.  "  Sir,"  he  said,  "  let 
us  preserve  it  as  far  as  we  can,  let  us  continue  to  hallow  it  in 
our  memory,  and  still  pray  that  : 

"  Long  may  it  wave, 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave," 

His  eulogy  of  the  old  flag,  which  the  leading  traitors  affected 
to  despise,  was  so  full  of  union  sentiment  that  it  was  regarded 
as  almost  treasonable,  and  Brooke  was  severely  rebuked.  Wil- 
liam Porcher  Miles,  of  South  Carolina,  the  chairman  of  the 
committee,  protested  against  the  resolution  and  the  utterance  of 
the  mover.  He  gloried  more  a  thousand  times  in  the  Palmetto 
flag  of  his  state.  He  had  regarded,  "  from  his  youth,  the  stars 
and  stripes  as  the  emblem  of  oppression  and  tyranny."  This 
bold  conspirator  was  so  warmly  applauded,  that  Brooke,  at  the 
suggestion  of  a  friend,  withdrew  his  motion. 

W.  W.  Boyce,  of  South  Carolina,  who  had  been  a  member 
of  the  national  congress  for  seven  years,  presented  a  model 
for  a  flag,  which  he  had  received  with  a  letter,  from  a  woman 
of  his  state  (Mrs.  C.  Ladd,  of  Winnsboro),  who  described  it  as 
"  tri-colored,  with  a  red  union,  seven  stars,  and  the  crescent 


392  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

moon."  She  offered  her  three  boys  to  her  country,  and  sug- 
gested Washington  Republic  as  the  name  of  the  new  nation. 
In  presenting  the  flag  and  letter,  Boyce  said :  "  I  will  take  the 
liberty  of  reading  her  letter  to  the  congress.  It  is  full  of  authentic 
fire.  It  is  worthy  of  Rome  in  her  best  days,  and  might  well 
have  been  read  in  the  Roman  senate  on  that  disastrous  day 
when  the  victorious  banner  of  the  great  Carthaginian  was  visible 
from  Mont  Aventine.  And  I  may  add,  Sir,  that  as  long  as 
our  women  are  impelled  by  these  sublime  sentiments,  and  our 
mountains  yield  the  metals  out  of  which  weapons  are  forged, 
the  lustrous  stars  of  our  unyielding  confederacy  will  never  pale 
their  glorious  fires,  though  baffled  oppression  may  threaten  with 
its  impotent  sword,  or,  more  dangerous  still,  seek  to  beguile 
with  the  siren  song  of  conciliation." 

Chilton,  Tombs,  Stephens,  and  others,  presented  devices  for 
flags.  They  were  sent  in  almost  daily  from  various  parts  of 
the  cotton-growing  states,  a  great  many  of  them  showing  attach- 
ment to  the  old  banner,  yet  accompanied  by  the  most  fervid  ex- 
pression of  sympathy  with  the  southern  cause."  l 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Memminger's  remarks,  on  motion  of 
Mr.  Miles,  of  South  Carolina,  the  subject  of  a  flag  for  the  con- 
federacy was  referred  to  a  committee  of  six  members ;  one 
from  each  state  represented  in  the  convention,  viz.,  Messrs.  Miles 
of  South  Carolina,  Morton  of  Florida,  Shorter  of  Alabama, 
Barton  of  Georgia,  Sparrow  of  Louisiana,  and  Harris  of  Missis- 
sippi. Finally,  on  the  5th  of  March,  Mr.  Miles,  of  South  Carolina, 
the  chairman  of  the  committee  to  whom  the  subject  of  a  flag 
for  the  confederate  states  was  referred,  submitted  the  following 
elaborate  report : 


1  Two  young  women,  Rebecca  C.  Ferguson  and  Mollie  A.  D.  Sinclair,  in  the  art 
department  of  the  Tuscogee  Female  College,  sent  in  seven  designs.  In  their  ac- 
companying letter  they  said,  that  "  amidst  all  their  efforts  at  originality,  there  ever 
danced  before  them  visions  of  the  star-gemmed  flag,  with  its  parti-colored  stripes, 
that  floated  so  proudly  over  the  late  United  States.  Let  us  snatch  from  the  eagle  of 
the  cliff  our  idea  of  independence,  and  cull  from  the  earth  diamonds,  and  gems  from 
the  heavens,  to  deck  the  flag  of  the  southern  confederacy.  With  cotton  for  king, 
there  are  seven  states  bound  by  a  chain  of  sisterly  love  that  will  strengthen  by  time, 
as  onward,  right  onward,  they  move  up  the  glorious  path  of  southern  independence." 

In  the  seven  devices  offered,  the  principal  members  were  an  eagle,  stars,  and  a 
cotton-bale.  These  devices  were  presented  with  highly  commendatory  words  by  Mr. 
Chilton,  of  Alabama. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  393 

"  The  committee  appointed  to  select  a  proper  flag  for  the  Con- 
federate States  of  America  beg  leave  to  report  that  they  have 
given  this  subject  due  consideration,  and  carefully  inspected  the 
designs  submitted  to  them.  The  number  of  these  has  been 
immense  but  they  all  may  be  divided  into  two  great  classes. 
First y  those  which  copy  and  preserve  the  principal  features  of  the 
United  States  flag,  with  slight  and  unimportant  modifications. 
Secondly,  those  which  are  very  elaborate,  complicated,  or  fantas- 
tical. The  objection  to  the  first  class  is  that  none  of  them  at 
any  considerable  distance  could  readily  be  distinguished  from  the 
one  which  they  imitate.  Whatever  attachment  may  be  felt  from 
association  for  the  stars  and  stripes  (an  attachment  which  your 
committee  may  be  permitted  to  say  they  do  not  all  share),  it  is 
manifest  that  in  inaugurating  a  new  government,  we  cannot  retain 
the  flag  of  the  government  from  which  we  have  withdrawn,  with 
any  propriety  or  without  encountering  very  obvious  practical 
difficulties.  There  is  no  propriety  in  retaining  the  ensign  of  a 
government  which,  in  the  opinion  of  the  states  composing  this 
confederacy,  had  become  so  oppresive  and  injurious  to  their 
interests  as  to  require  their  separation  from  it.  It  is  idle  to  talk 
of  keeping  the  flag  of  the  United  States,  when  we  have 
voluntarily  seceded  from  them.  It  is  superfluous  to  dwell  upon 
the  practical  difficulties  which  would  flow  from  the  fact  of  two 
distinct  and  probably  hostile  governments  both  employing  the 
same,  or  very  similar  flags.  It  would  be  a  political  and  military 
solecism.  It  would  lead  to  perpetual  disputes.  As  to  the 
glories  of  the  old  flag  we  must  bear  in  mind  that  the  battles  of 
the  revolution,  about  which  our  fondest  and  proudest  memories 
cluster,  were  not  fought  beneath  its  folds  ;  and  although  in  more 
recent  times,  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  in  the  war  with  Mexico, 
the  south  did  win  her  fair  share  of  glory,  and  shed  her  full 
measure  of  blood  under  its  guidance  and  in  its  defence,  we 
think  the  impartial  pages  of  history  will  preserve  and  commemo- 
rate the  fact  more  imperishably  than  a  mere  piece  of  striped 
bunting.  When  the  colonies  achieved  their  independence  of 
the  mother  country  (which  up  to  the  last  they  fondly  called 
her),  they  did  not  desire  to  retain  the  British  flag  or  any  thing  at 
all  similar  to  it.  Yet  under  that  flag  they  had  fought  in  their 
50 


394  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

infancy  for  their  very  existence  against  more  than  one  determined 
foe.  Under  it  they  had  repelled  and  driven  back  the  relentless 
savage  and  carried  it  farther  and  farther  into  the  decreasing  wild- 
erness as  the  standard  of  civilization  and  religion.  Under  it 
youthful  Washington  won  his  spurs,  in  the  memorable  and  un- 
fortunate expedition  of  Braddock,  and  Americans  helped  to  plant 
it  on  the  plains  of  Abraham  when  the  immortal  Wolfe  fell, 
covered  with  glory,  in  the  arms  of  victory.  But  our  forefathers, 
when  they  separated  themselves  from  great  Britain,  a  separation 
not  on  account  of  their  hatred  of  the  English  constitution,  or  of 
English  institutions,  but  in  consequence  of  the  tyrannical  and 
unconstitutional  rule  of  Lord  North's  administration;  and  because 
their  destiny  beckoned  them  on  to  independent  expansion  and 
achievement,  cast  no  lingering,  regretful  looks  behind.  They 
were  proud  of  their  heritage  in  the  glories  and  genius  and 
language  of  old  England,  but  they  were  influenced  by  the  spirit 
of  the  north,  of  the  great  Hampden,  Vestigia  nulla  retrorsum. 
They  were  determined  to  build  up  a  new  power  among  the  na- 
tions of  the  world.  They  therefore  did  not  attempt  to  keep 
the  old  flags.  We  think  it  good  to  imitate  them  in  this  com- 
paratively little  matter  as  well  as  emulate  them  in  greater  and 
more  important  ones.  The  committee  on  examining  the  repre- 
sentations of  the  flags  of  all  countries  found  that  Liberia  and 
the  Sandwich  islands  [see  plate  III],  had  flags  so  similar  to  that 
of  the  United  States  that  it  seemed  to  them  an  additional,  if  not 
a  conclusive,  reason  why  we  should  not  keep,  copy  or  imitate 
it.  They  feel  no  inclination  to  borrow  at  second  hand  what 
had  been  pilfered  and  appropriated  by  a  free  negro  community 
and  a  race  of  savages.  It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that  some- 
thing was  conceded  by  the  committee  to  what  seemed  so  strong 
and  earnest  a  desire  to  retain  at  least  a  suggestion  of  the  old 
stars  and  stripes.  So  much  for  the  mass  of  models  or  designs 
more  or  less  copied  from,  or  assimilated  to,  the  United  States  flag. 
With  reference  to  the  second  class  of  designs,  those  of  an  elabo- 
rate and  complicated  character  (but  many  of  them  showing  con- 
siderable artistic  skill  and  taste),  the  committee  will  merely  remark 
that,  however  pretty  they  may  be  when  made  up  by  the  cunning 
skill  of  a  fair  lady's  fingers,  in  silk,  satin  and  embroidery  they 
are  not  appropriate  as  flags.  A  flag  should  be  simple,  readily 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  395 

made,  and  above  all,  capable  of  being  made  up  in  bunting  ;  it 
should  be  different  from  the  flag  of  any  other  country,  place,  or 
people  ;  it  should  be  significant ;  it  should  be  readily  distinguish- 
able at  a  distance ;  the  colors  should  be  well  contrasted  and 
durable,  and  lastly,  and  not  the  least  important  point,  it  should 
be  effective  and  handsome. 

"  The  committee  humbly  think  that  the  flag  which  they  submit 
combines  these  requisites.  It  is  very  easy  to  make.  It  is  en- 
tirely different  from  any  national  flag.  The  three  colors  of 
which  it  is  composed,  red,  white,  and  blue,  are  the  true  republican 
colors.  In  heraldry  they  are  emblematic  of  the  three  great  virtues, 
of  valor,  purity  and  truth.  Naval  men  assure  us  that  it  can  be 
recognized  at  a  great  distance.  The  colors  contrast  admirably 
and  are  lasting.  In  effect  and  appearance  it  must  speak  for  itself. 

"  Your  committee  therefore  recommended  that  THE  FLAG  OF 
THE  CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA  shall  consist  of  a  red 
field,  with  a  white  space  extending  horizontally  through  the  centre, 
and  equal  In  width  to  one  third  the  width  of  the  flag.  The  red 
spaces  above  and  below  to  be  of  the  same  width  as  the  white.  The 
union,  blue,  extending  down  through  the  white  space,  and  stopping  at 
the  lower  red  space  ;  in  the  centre  of  the  union  a  circle  of  white  stars 
corresponding  in  number  with  the  states  of  the  confederacy. 

"  If  adopted,  long  may  it  wave  over  a  brave,  a  free,  and  a  virtu- 
ous people.  May  the  career  of  the  confederacy,  whose  duty  it 
will  then  be  to  support  and  defend  it,  be  such  as  to  endear  it  to  our 
children's  children,  as  the  flag  of  a  loved,  because  a  just  and  be- 
nign government,  and  the  cherished  symbol  of  its  valor,  purity 
and  truth."1 

The  report  was  adopted  and  on  motion  of  Mr.  Withers,  of 
South  Carolina,  the  whole  report  was  entered  upon  the  journal 
of  the  day  previous  ;  thus  making  the  birth  of  the  stars  and  bars, 
as  the  flag  soon  came  to  be  called,  symbol  of  the  new  empire, 


1  Mr.  Mi/es,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  General  Beauregard,  dated  August  27,  1861, 
says  :  "  although  I  was  chairman  of  the  flag  committee  who  reported  the  present  flag, 
it  was  not  my  individual  choice."  After  describing,  by  means  of  a  rough  drawing,  a  flag 
like  the  battle  flag  afterwards  adopted  as  his  preference,  continues  :  "  But  I  am  boring 
you  with  my  pet  hobby  on  the  matter  of  the  flag,  I  wish  sincerely  that  congress  would 
change  the  present  one,  but  I  fear  it  is  just  as  hard  now,  as  it  was  at  Montgomery,  to 
tear  people  away  entirely  from  the  desire  to  appropriate  some  reminiscence  of  the  old 
flag." 


396  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

simultaneous   with  the  inauguration  of  Abraham  Lincoln,   as 
president  of  the  United  States,  at  Washington.1 

Coming  as  this  report  does  from  a  committee  whose  chairman 
had  said  in  debate,  "  he  had  always  looked  even  from  the  cradle 
upon  the  stars  and  stripes  as  an  emblem  of  tyranny  and  oppres- 
sion," it  is  conclusive  that  there  still  existed  a  strong  yearning  in 
the  popular  heart  for  our  old  flag  and  all  the  memories  and 
battlefields  on  which  it  had  been  consecrated.  It  is  therefore 
reasonable  to  hope  that  with  time,  its  restoration  will  be  as  popular 
to  the  southern  sentiment  as  its  abandonment  was  distasteful.2 

The  confederate  general,  Wm.  C.  Wictam,  in  a  letter 
written  after  the  war  said  :  "  I  have  often  said  to  those  with 
whom  I  was  on  terms  of  friendship  that  I  never  saw  the 
United  States  flag,  even  when  approaching  me  in  battle,  that  I 
did  not  feel  arising  those  emotions  of  regard  for  it,  that  it  had 
been  won't  to  inspire.  I  have  in- like  manner  said  that  one  of 
the  most  painful  sights  I  had  ever  seen,  was  on  the  night  of  the 
first  battle  of  Manassas  [Bull's  run],  when  I  saw  an  officer 
trailing  the  flag  in  the  dust  before  a  regiment  of  the  line." 

Many  incidents  show  that  the  old  flag  was  not  surrendered  in 
the  peoples'  heart  without  a  struggle.3  Even  Admiral  Semmes, 


1  We  protest  says  the  Montgomery  Mail  against  the  word  stripes  as  applied  to  the 
broad  tars  of  the  flag  of  our  confederacy.  The  word  is  quite  appropriate  as  applied  to 
the  Yankee  ensigns  or  a  barber's  pole j  but  it  does  not  correctly  describe  the  red  and 
white  divisions  of  the  flag  of  the  Confederate  States.  The  word  is  bars,  we  have  re- 
moved from  under  the  stripes. — New  Tork  World,  April  2,  1861. 

a  A  vessel  from  a  Florida  port  arrived  at  Havana  with  the  confederate  flag  flying.  The 
boat  of  the  captain  general  immediately  went  alongside  and  required  it  should  be  at 
once  lowered,  as  it  represented  no  known  nation.  The  master  who  had  an  American 
ensign  at  hand  hoisted  it  in  its  place.  He  then  went  to  the  United  States  consul,  Mr. 
Savage,  and  presented  a  register  from  the  Confederate  States,  which  the  consul  would 
not  recognize,  but  on  the  master's  representing  that,  he  had  taken  command  at  the  last 
moment,  and  that  the  register  was  taken  out  in  the  name  of  his  predecessor  in  command 
and  on  the  master  taking  oath  that  the  vessel  was  wholly  owned  by  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  the  consul  granted  him  a  sea  letter  to  enable  him  to  return  to  the 
United  States,  but  retained  the  confederate  register  and  forwarded  it  to  Washington. 

The  case  was  anomalous  j  the  owners  might  be  really  loyal  citizens,  but  forced  in 
the  absence  of  regular  United  States  officers,  to  take  out  Confederate  State  papers,  and 
the  consul  did  not  feel  willing  to  entirely  refuse  having  any  thing  to  do  with  her,  af- 
ter she  had  hoisted  the  United  States  flag,  and  thus  condemn  her  to  lie  in  Havana  an 
indefinite  time.  — New  Tork  Express  April  27,  1861. 

August  31,  1861.  The  captain  general,  of  Cuba,  ordered  the  several  ports  of  that 
island  to  admit  vessels,  with  the  flag  of  the  confederation  of  the  south,  in  the  ports  for 
the  purpose  of  legitimate  trade  and  to  be  protected  in  the  said  ports.  —  Rebellion  Record. 

3  The  Savannah  Republican  called  upon  the  confederate  congress  to  re-erect  the 
stars  and  stripes  as  their  national  flag  and  resume  upon  the  southern  Lyre  those 
glorious  old  tunes  Hail  Columbia,  and  the  Star  Spangled  Banner. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  397 

the  captain  of  the  Alabama,  has  confessed  his  regret  that  the 
stars  and  stripes  had  to  be  abandoned.  A  little  child,  who 
in  other  days  had  learned  to  revere  the  stars  and  stripes,  upon 
being  told  that  he  must  in  future  say  stars  and  bars  wanted 
to  know  whether  the  bars  were  to  bar  the  Yankees  out.1 

The  editor  of  Savannah  Morning  News,2  in  a  letter  dated  Dec. 
25,  1871,  says  :  "  I  was  present  in  Montgomery  at  the  organi- 
zation of  the  provisional  government  of  the  Confederate  States, 
and  during  the  session  of  the  first  provisional  congress.  My 
friend  and  townsman,  Gen.  F.  S.  Barlow,  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  the  flag  and  seal,  and  being  much  in  his  room  I 
had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  numerous  designs  for  a  flag 
which  were  sent  from  all  parts  of  the  south,  and  often  discussed 
with  him,  and  other  members  of  the  committee,  their  respective 
merits."  There  was  a  very  general  desire  to  depart  as  little  as 
possible  from  the  old  flag,  and  yet  the  necessity  for  distinction  was 
felt  by  all.  The  difficulty  was  to  preserve  the  liberty  colors 
and  yet  to  have  a  flag  that  did  not  too  much  resemble  that 
of  some  other  nation.  Many  very  elaborate  and  quaint  designs 
modeled  in  silk  and  painted  on  paper  or  canvass,  most  of  which 
could  not  have  been  made  of  bunting,  were  submitted  and 
rejected.  The  session  was  on  the  eve  of  closing,  when  as  a 
last  resort,  the  stars  and  bars,  with  which  you  are  no  doubt  fa- 
miliar, were  adopted.  This  flag  was  used  and  by  its  resem- 
blance to  the  stars  and  stripes  caused  some  confusion  at  the  first 
battle  of  Manassas  in  which  General  Barlow  fell. 

In  1867,  Semmes,  in  the  name  of  the  ladies  of  a  Baptist  fair, 
at  Memphis,  presented  to  the  captain  of  the  steamer  Continental, 
a  set  of  colors  consisting  of  four  flags  :  the  stars  and  stripes 
for  the  stern,  the  boat  flag  for  the  jackstafF,  and  two  blue  flags 
for  the  wheel  houses.  He  accompanied  the  presentation  with 
the  following  address  :  tc  Captain  :  At  the  late  fair  which  was 
held  at  the  Baptist  tabernacle  in  this  city,  a  set  of  colors  was 
voted  to  the  most  popular  steamboat  plying  upon  our  southern 
waters,  the  choice  has  fallen  upon  the  gallant  little  Continental, 
of  which  you  are  captain  ;  and  the  ladies  of  the  tabernacle  have 
done  me  the  honor  to  request  that  I  should  present  them  to  you. 
I  assure  you,  Captain,  that  this  is  a  real  pleasure,  both  because 

1  Mobile  Evening  News.  a  Wm.  T.  Thompson  to  G.  H.  P. 


398  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

it  gives  me  the  opportunity  of  serving  the  ladies,  of  whom  I  am 
always  the  humble  knight  and  servitor  ;  and  of  meeting  some  of 
my  professional  friends  on  a  social  occasion.  1  do  not  know 
whether  the  thought  has  struck  others  as  oddly  as  it  has  struck 
myself,  that  I  should  be  standing  here,  amid  this  gay  throng,  about 
to  present  the  stars  and  stripes  to  one  of  the  enrolled  vessels  of  the 
United  States,  to  restore,  as  it  were,  the  star  spangled  banner  to 
the  mast  head  of  the  merchant  ship,  from  which,  in  times  gone 
by,  I  have  so  often  caused  it  to  descend.  But  such  are  some 
of  the  revolutions  of  history.  To  the  unthinking  multitude  I 
have  indeed  been  a  great  sinner  and  a  great  rebel ;  but  to  the 
more  thoughtful  I  have  been  only  a  patriot.  Paradoxical  as  the 
statement  may  appear  to  some  of  my  hearers,  I  have  never 
warred  against  the  institutions  of  my  country.  I  have  always 
cherished  an  affection  for  the  principles  of  the  old  constitution  and 
the  old  flag ;  and  it  was  only  when  the  old  flag  became  a  new  flag, 
and  ceased  to  represent  those  principles  that  I  consented  to  war 
against  it.  One  of  the  first  acts  performed  by  the  provisional 
congress  that  met  at  Montgomery  was  to  adopt  the  old  consti- 
tution as  the  constitution  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  but  for  the 
confusion  which  would  have  arisen  from  the  use  of  the  same  by  the 
contending  armies,  that  congress  would,  no  doubt,  have  claimed  and 
adopted  the  old  flag  also.  The  two,  the  constitution  and  the  flag, 
had  always  keen  united  in  the  mind  and  heart  of  every  American, 
and  it  was  difficult  to  separate  them.  As,  then,  our  war  was  one 
for  the  old  constitution,  it  follows,  logically,  that  we  were 
arrayed  against  the  old  flag  because  it  had  ceased  to  represent 
that  constitution.  The  stars  and  stripes,  that  I  hold  in  my  hand, 
were  no  longer,  in  our  judgment,  the  stars  and  stripes  of  the 
revolution  of  1776,  or  of  the  war  of  1812  ;  and  when  we  fired 
upon  them,  we  fired  upon  what  we  conceived  to  be  a  new  and 
strange  emblem,  that  had  been  unknown  to  our  fathers.  But 
the  strife  is  now  ended. 

"  We  were  beaten  in  the  war,  and  the  flag  of  the  conqueror 
became  our  flag.  Take,  then  these  colors,  Captain  ;  they  are 
the  colors  of  our  common  country,  whatever  may  be  their 
present  signification.  We  can  all  feel  an  honest  pride  in  their 
more  ancient  history,  as  I  trust  we  shall  be  enabled  to  do  in 
their  future  history.  With  regard  to  what  I  may  call  their 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  399 

especial  history — that  is,  the  history  which  covers  four  years  of 
our  internecine  war  —  it  is  our  duty,  both  as  Christians  and  brethren 
to  forget  it.  Let  us,  of  the  south,  do  our  part  by  closing  them 
with  a  tender  and  gentle  hand,  so  that  no  scars  may  remain  to 
remind  us  of  the  conflict.  And  let  us  endeavor  also  to  convert 
this  new  flag  into  the  old  flag  again,  that  we  may  love  it  as  of 
yore.  Then  truly  may  we  exclaim  with  the  author  of  our  na- 
tional anthem. 

'  The  star  spangled  banner,  oh,  long  may  it  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave." 

A  Charleston  correspondent  wrote  to  the  Richmond  Examiner  : 
"  Let  us  never  surrender  to  the  north  the  noble  song,  The  Star 
Spangled  Banner.  It  is  southern  in  its  origin;  in  sentiments, 
poetry  and  song  ;  in  its  associations  with  chivalrous  deeds,  it  is 
ours;  and  the  time,  I  trust,  is  not  remote  when  the  broad  stripes 
and  brilliant  stars  of  the  Confederate  flag  of  the  south  will  wave 
triumphantly  over  our  Capitol,  Fortress  Monroe,  and  every  fort 
within  our  borders. x  This  was  within  a  month  after  the  stars  and 
bars  had  been  adopted. 

Soon  after  the  adoption  of  the  stars  and  bars,  the  burial  of 
the  stars  and  stripes  was  publicly  celebrated  at  Memphis,  Ten- 
nessee. A  pit  was  dug  by  the  side  of  the  statue  of  General  Jack- 
son in  the  public  square  of  that  city.  Then  a  procession  of 
some  five  hundred  citizens,  escorting  eight  men  carrying  a  cof- 
fin in  which  was  an  American  flag,  slowly  approached  the  spot 
headed  by  a  band  of  music  playing  the  Dead  March.  The  coffin 
was  placed  in  the  grave,  the  words  "ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to  dust," 
were  sacrilegiously  pronounced,  and  the  grave  filled  up. 

The  same  month,  on  the  arrival  of  A.  H.  Stephens  at  Savannah, 
Georgia,  he  was  escorted  by  a  large  procession  through  that  city 
which  carried  a  painted  representation  of  the  American  flag,  torn 
and  suspended  from  a  broken  staff.  Underneath  was  a  grave  with 
the  words  receive  me.  This  outrage  upon  the  flag  aroused  deep 
disgust  and  indignation  among  the  still  loyal  portions  of  the  citi- 
zens, and  the  venerable  pastor  of  the  Seamen's  bethel,  openly 
denounced  the  proceedings,  declaring  that  Savannah  had  been  the 
first  to  dishonor  the  glorious  banner  of  the  union.  On  being 


1  Richmond  Examiner,  April  4,  1861 . 


400  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

threatened  with  violence  he  told  the  mob  that,  though  he  was  an 
old  man,  he  would  defend  himself  and  some  of  them  would  bite 
the  dust  if  they  laid  hands  on  him. 

The  flag  adopted  by  the  Confederate  congress  on  the  5th  day  of 
March,  1861,  by  no  means  met  with  general  approval,  and 
numerous  devices,  considered  by  their  authors  more  appropriate, 
continued  to  be  presented.  The  stars  and  bars  did  not  satisfy 
those  who  wished  to  retain  the  old  flag,  and  was  too  nearly  allied  to 
the  old  flag  in  devices  to  suit  those  who  wished  to  tear  away 
from  it  altogether.  And  in  use  on  the  battle  field  its  resemblance 
to  the  stars  and  stripes,  led  to  confusion  and  mistakes. 

At  the  first  battle  of  Bull's  run,  July  21,  1861,  called  by 
the  confederates  the  battle  of  Manassas,  the  opposing  regimental 
colors  were  so  alike  that  each  party  accused  the  other  of  dis- 
playing its  colors.  On  that  account  an  attempt  was  made,  by 
General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  to  substitute  state  colors  for  those 
of  the  confederacy  but  not  being  able  to  obtain  them,  except  for 
Virginia  regiments,  designs  were  called  for.  Most  of  those 
designs  were  by  Louisianians,  and  were  presented  by  General 
Beauregard  ;  that  design  selected  had  a  red  ground,  with  a  blue 
diagonal  cross  emblazoned  with  white  stars,  one  for  each  state,  and 
when  first  submitted  was  oblong  in  shape.  General  Johnston 
changed  this  from  oblong  to  square  ;  regimental  colors  being  four, 
and  standards  two  and  a  half  feet.  They  were  furnished  to  the 
army  of  Virginia  by  the  quartermaster's  department  and  adopted 
by  all  the  troops  that  served  east  of  the  Mississippi.1 

Though  the  southern  cross  was  thus  introduced  by  General 
Beauregard  a  a  battle  flag,  the  stars  and  bars  continued  to  be 
flown  as  the  ensign  of  the  confederacy  on  flagstaff's  and  by  the 
shipping.  In  the  field  it  was  almost  entirely  superceded  by 
Gen.  Beauregard's  battle  flag.2 

The  full  history  of  the  origin  of  this  flag  is  given  in  the 
following  letter  from  General  Beauregard.  The  original  de- 
sign prepared  by  Mr.  E.  C.  Hancock  of  New  Orleans,  April 
1 86 1,  and  presented  by  Col.  J.  B.  Walton  for  examination 
and  adoption  Sept.  1861,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  South- 
ern Historical  Society  of  New  Orleans. 

1  Letter  of  Col.  Ed.  C.  Anderson  of  Savannah.— G.  H.  P. 

2  Letter  Wm.  T.  Thompson  to  G.H.P. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  401 

No  other  flag  than  this  was  used  by  the  confederates  in  the 
field  after  it  was  adopted  and  furnished  to  the  troops  in  Virginia, 
Oct.  1861.* 

"  Office  New  Orleans  and  Carrollton  Rail  Road  Company, 

"New  Orleans,  Jan.  24th,  1872. 

"  DEAR  SIR.  In  answer  to  the  inquiries  contained  in  your 
letter  of  the  3d  inst.,  relative  to  the  origin  of  the  confederate 
battle  flag  and  the  devices  of  the  Louisiana  state  flag,  flying  on 
the  City  Hall  of  New  Orleans,  when  Commodore  Farragut 
appeared  before  this  city  in  April,  1862,  I  give  you  with  pleasure 
the  following  information. 

At  the  battle  of  Manassas,  on  the  2ist  of  July,  1861,  I  found 
it  difficult  to  distinguish  our  then  confederate  flag  from  the  United 
States  flag  (the  two  being  so  much  alike),  especially  when 
Gen.  Jubal  A.  Early  made  the  flank  movement  which  decided 
the  fate  of  the  day  ;  and  I  then  resolved  to  have  ours  changed  if 
practicable,  or  to  adopt  for  my  command  a  battle  flag  which 
would  be  entirely  different  from  any  state  or  federal  flag  !  After 
the  battle  it  was  found  that  many  persons  in  both  armies  firmly 
believed  that  each  side  had  used,  as  a  stratagem,  the  flags  of  his 
opponent.  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  commanding  the  Con- 
federate States'  forces,  determined  to  have  the  troops  furnished 
with  their  state  flags,  and  I  entered  into  correspondence  with 
Colonel  William  Porcher  Miles,  the  chairman  of  the  house  mili- 
tary committee,  to  have  our  national  flag  changed.  But  that 
was  found  to  be  impracticable  at  the  time,  and  none  of  the  states, 
except  Virginia,  having  furnished  flags  to  their  troops,  General 
Johnston,  on  consultation  at  Fairfax  Court  House,  Virginia,  with 
General  G.  W.  Smith,  commanding  the  army  of  the  Shenandoah 
(ad  corps),  and  myself,  commanding  the  army  of  the  Potomac 
(ist  corps),  decided  to  adopt  a  battle  flag  for  our  forces. 
Many  designs  were  presented,  and  we  gave  the  preference  to 
one  of  those  offered  by  Colonel  J.  B.  Walton,  commanding  the 
Louisiana  Washington  artillery,  which  corresponded  closely  to 
the  one  recommended  to  congress  by  Colonel  Miles,  as  our  first 
national  flag.  Both  were  oblong,  the  field  was  red,  the  bars  blue, 


1  General  Johnson. 

51 


402  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

and  the  stars  white  ;  but  Colonel  Walton's  had  the  Latin  cross, 
and  Colonel  Miles's  the  St.  Andrew**  which  removed  the  objec- 
tion that  many  of  our  soldiers  might  have  to  fight  under  the 
former  symbol.  General  Johnston  preferred  a  square  flag  to 
render  it  more  convenient  to  carry,  and  we  finally  adopted,  in 
September,  1861,  the  well  known  battle  flag  of  the  army  of 
the  Potomac  (as  it  was  first  called),  to  which  our  soldiers  became 
so  devoted.  Its  field  was  red  or  crimson,  its  bars  were  blue,  and 
running  diagonally  across  from  one  corner  to  the  other,  formed  the 
Greek  cross,  the  stars  on  the  bars  were  white  or  gold,  their  num- 
ber being  equal  to  the  number  of  states  in  the  confederacy,  the  blue 
bars  were  separated  from  the  red  field  by  a  small  white  fillet.  The 
size  of  the  flag,  for  infantry,  was  fixed  at  4  X  4  feet,  for  artillery  at 
3X3  feet,  and  for  cavalry  at  2j  X  2j  feet.  It  had  the  merit  of 
being  small  and  light,  and  of  being  very  distinct  at  great  distances. 
But  it  was  not  accepted  by  the  Confederate  government  until  it  had 
been  consecrated  by  many  a  hard  fought  battle,  when  it  became 
the  union  of  our  second  and  third  confederate  national  flags.1 

"  When  I  assumed  command  of  the  troops  in  western  Ten- 
nessee, February  1862,  I  found  that  Gen.  Polk  had  adopted  for 
his  forces  a  flag  nearly  similar  to  the  one  I  had  designed  for  the 
army  of  the  Potomac,  i.  e.,  a  blue  field  with  a  white  St  Andrew's 
cross,  and  blue  or  gold  stars.  Gen.  Hardee  had  for  his  divi- 
sion, a  blue  field  with  a  full  white  circle  in  its  center.  I  gave 
orders  to  have  them  replaced  as  soon  as  practicable  by  the  battle 
flag  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  In  September,  1862,  when  I 
returned  to  Charleston,  I  substituted  the  same  banner  for  the 
State  flags,  then  principally  used  in  the  department  of  South 
Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Florida.  It  became  thus  in  our  armies 
the  emblem  of  southern  valor  and  patriotism,  and  should  we  ever 
be  compelled  to  have  a  foreign  war,  I  trust  that  this  standard  will 
be  adopted  as  our  national  battle  flag,  to  which  southern  soldiers 
will  always  gladly  rally  in  a  just  cause.2 

"The  state  flag  referred  to  by  you,  was  adopted  by  the  seces- 


1  This  paragraph  from  "  its  field,"  etc.,  was  added  by  Gen.  Beauregard  in  a  letter  to 
me  dated  Jan.  29,  1872. —  G.  H.  P. 

3 Should,  unfortunately,  our  country  engage  in  another  war,  foreign  or  domestic, 
it  is  to  be  hoped  that  dear  old  flag,  the  star  spangled  banner  of  the  whole  union,  will 
be  soul  inspiring  to  the  soldiers  of  the  common  country,  whether  northern,  southern, 
eastern  or  western,  and  that  all  sectional  emblems  will  be  buried  beneath  its 
folds.— G.  H.  P. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  403 

sion  convention,  and  contained  thirteen  stripes,  four  blue,  six 
white,  and  three  red,  commencing  at  top  with  the  colors  as 
written.  The  union  was  red,  with  its  sides  equal  to  the  width 
of  seven  stripes ;  in  its  center  was  a  single  pale  yellow  star  with 
five  points. 

"  I  remain  your's  truly, 
"  G.  T.  BEAUREGARD." 


On  the  3d  of  February,  1872,  Gen.  Beauregard  transmitted 
to  the  Southern  Historical  Society  of  New  Orleans,  for  preser- 
vation in  its  archives,  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  letter  to  me  to- 
gether with  the  following  correspondence  accompanying  the  ori- 
ginal flag  design  prepared,  at  the  request  of  Col.  J.  B.  Walton, 
by  Mr.  Edward  C.  Hancock. 

"RICHMOND,  August  27,  1861. 
"Gen.  G.  T.  Beauregard,  Fairfax  Court  House,  Va.  : 

"Dear  General — I  received  your  letter  concerning  the  flag 
yesterday,  and  cordially  concur  in  all  that  you  say.  Although  I 
was  chairman  of  the  flag  committee,  who  reported  the  present 
flag,  it  was  not  my  individual  choice.  I  urged  upon  the  com- 
mittee a  flag  of  this  sort.  —  [Design  sketched^ 

"This  is  very  rough  —  the  proportions  are  bad.  — [Design  of 
Confederate  battle-flag  as  it  is.'] 

"  The  above  is  better.  The  ground  red,  the  cross  blue,  (edged 
with  white),  stars  white. 

"•This  was  my  favorite.  The  three  colors  of  red,  white  and 
blue  were  preserved  in  it.  It  avoided  the  religious  objection 
about  the  cross  (from  the  Jews  and  many  protestant  sects), 
because  it  did  not  stand  out  so  conspicuously  as  if  the  cross  had 
been  placed  upright,  thus  ;  [Design  sketched^ 

"  Besides,  in  the  form  I  proposed,  the  cross  was  more  Heraldric 
than  Ecclesiastical,  it  being  the  saltier e  of  heraldry,  and  signifi- 
cant of  strength  and  progress  (from  the  Latin  salto^  to  leap.)  The 
stars  ought  always  to  be  white,  or  argent,  because  they  are  then 
blazoned,  proper,  (or  natural  color.)  Stars,  too,  show  better 
on  an  azure  field  than  any  other.  Blue  stars  on  a  white  field 
would  not  be  handsome  or  appropriate.  The  white  edge  (as 
I  term  it),  to  the  blue  is  partly  a  necessity  to  prevent  what  is 


404  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

called  false  blazoning,  or  a  solecism  in  heraldry,  viz.,  blazon- 
ing color  on  color ,  or  metal  on  metal.  It  would  not  do  to  put  a 
blue  cross  therefore  on  a  red  field.  Hence  the  white^  being 
metal  argent ,  is  put  on  the  m/,  and  the  blue  put  on  the  white. 
The  introduction  of  the  white  between  the  blue  and  red,  adds 
also  much  to  the  brilliancy  of  the  colors,  and  brings  them  out  in 
strong  relief. 

"  But  I  am  boring  you  with  my  pet  hobby  in  the  matter  of  the 
flag.  I  wish  sincerely,  that  congress  would  change  the  present 
one.  Your  reasons  are  conclusive  in  my  mind.  But  I  fear  it 
is  just  as  hard  now  as  it  was  at  Montgomery  to  tear  the  people 
away  entirely  from  the  desire  to  appropriate  some  reminiscence 
of  the  old  flag.  We  are  now  so  close  to  the  end  of  the 
session  that  even  if  we  could  command  votes  (upon  a  fair  hear- 
ing), I  greatly  fear  we  cannot  get  such  hearing.  Some  think 
the  provisional  congress  ought  to  leave  the  matter  to  the  per- 
manent. This  might  then  be  but  a  provisional  flag.  Yet,  as 
you  truly  say,  after  a  few  more  victories,  association  will 
come  to  the  aid  of  the  present  flag,  and  then  it  will  be  more 
difficult  than  ever  to  effect  a  change.  I  fear  nothing  can  be 
done,  but  I  will  try.  I  will,  so  soon  as  I  can,  urge  the  matter 
of  the  badges.  The  president  is  too  sick  to  be  seen  at  present 
by  any  one.  "  Very  respectfully  yours, 

"WM.  PORCHER  MILES." 

"  NEW  ORLEANS,  Jan.  30,  1872. 

"  Dear  Sir —  The  flag  design  referred  to  by  you  in  your  com- 
munication to  Capt.  Preble,  United  States  navy,  as  having  been 
submitted  for  adoption  at  the  consultation,  held  at  Fairfax 
Court  House,  Va.,  subsequent  to  the  battle  of  Manassas,  was,  at 
my  request,  designed  and  executed  by  Mr.  Edward  C.  Han- 
cock (now  associate  editor  of  the  New  Orleans  Times)  sometime 
during  the  month  of  April,  1861.  On  leaving  New  Orleans 
with  my  command  for  Richmond,  in  May,  1861.  I  carried 
with  me  the  design  to  that  city,  where  it  was  freely  exhibited 
and  generally  approved.  Among  others,  it  was  shown  to  Col. 
Porcher  Miles,  member  of  the  flag  committee. 

"  In  regard  to  its  adoption  by  the  conference  of  officers,  and 
subsequent  modification  to  correspond  with  Col.  Miles's  draft,  I 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  405 

beg  leave  to  confirm  the  statement  made  by  yourself  to  Capt. 
Geo.  H.  Preble,  United  States  navy. 

u  The  original  design  remained  in  my  possession  until  about  a 
year  ago,  when,  recognizing  its  probable  historic  value,  I  re- 
turned it  to  Mr.  Hancock,  who  now  transmits  it  to  your  care. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  have  only  to  state  that  there  can  be  no 
doubt  in  regard  to  the  design  forwarded  having  been  the  original 
of  the  confederate  battle  flag,  and  as  such  is  entitled  to  careful 
preservation. 

"  1  am,  General,  very  respectfully,  yours, 

"  J.  B.  WALTON. 

"  To  General  G.  T.  Beauregard,  New  Orleans." 

New  Orleans,  Feb.  ist,  1872. 
"  Gen.  G.  T.  Beauregard  : 

"  Dear  Sir  —  In  response  to  your  expressed  wishes,  I  here- 
with transmit  for  donation  to  the  historical  society  the  original 
flag  design  prepared  by  me  in  the  month  of  April,  1861,  at  the 
request  of  Col.  J.  B.  Walton. 

"  Col.  W.,  returned  the  document  to  me  about  one  year  ago, 
advising  its  careful  preservation  as  an  historical  memento.  Be- 
lieving that  this  end  can  be  best  achieved  in  the  manner  pro- 
posed, I  cheerfully  entrust  it  to  your  care. 

"  With  the  highest  considerations  of  esteem,  I  remain,  general, 
respectfully  yours, 

"  EDW.  C.  HANCOCK." 


This  correspondence  was  published  in  the  New  Orleans  Times 
and  was  the  occasion  of  the  following  letters  from  Gen.  Beau- 
regard  and  Col.  Miles  which  contain  additional  interesting  infor- 
mation on  the  subject. 

"  Office  New  Orleans  and  Carrollton  Rail  Road  Co. 

New  Orleans,  June  24,  1872. 

"  MY  DEAR  SIR:  Enclosed  please  find  the  printed  copy  of  a  letter  from 
Colonel  William  Porcher  Miles,  formerly  of  South  Carolina,  but  now  of 
Va.,  in  which  he  gives  additional  information  relative  to  origin  of  the  con- 
federate battle  flag.  Hoping  it  may  not  reach  you  too  late  to  be  published  in 


406  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

your  book,  with  the  other  communications  on  the  same  subject  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  sending  you  in  February  last. 

"  I  remain  yours,  very  truly,  G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 

"  Captain  George  H.  Preble,  U.  S.  N. 

"Charleston,  Massachusetts." 


"Oak  Ridge,  Nelson  Co.,  Va.,  May  14,  1872. 
"General  G.  T.  Beauregard,  New  Orleans,  La.: 

"  My  Dear  General.  —  A  friend  has  shown  me  an  article,  copied  from 
the  New  Orleans  Times  containing  letters  from  yourself  and  Colonel  Wal- 
ton, touching  the  origin  of  the  confederate  battle  flag.  It  is  certainly  not 
worth  while  for  us  vanquished  Confederates  to  contend  among  ourselves 
for  the  honor  (if  there  be  any  honor  in  it),  of  having  designed  it,  and 
cheerfully  would  I  yield  my  own  pretensions  to  any  merit  whatever  in  the 
matter  to  the  gallant  Colonel,  who  with  his  noble  battalion  so  bravely  up- 
held it  until  the  overwhelming  hosts  of  our  invaders  compelled  us  to  furl 
it  in  sorrow  but  not  in  shame. 

"  But  as  I  have  many  times  said  to  many  persons  that  the  battle  flag  was 
my  design,  and  that  I  had  been  instrumental  in  its  adoption,  and  never 
until  now  supposed  that  the  fact  had  ever  been  called  in  question,  I  feel 
some  sensitiveness  since  Colonel  Walton's  letter  and  yours  have  been  pub- 
lished lest  my  reputation  for  veracity  may  suffer  somewhat.  And  although  I 
hope  that  those  who  know  me  well  will  not  believe  that  from  any  petty  mo- 
tive of  vanity  I  would  falsify  facts,  still  there  may  be  others  who  will  think 
that,  like  the  jackdaw  in  ^Esop,  I  have  had  a  borrowed  feather  plucked 
from  me  by  the  publication  aforesaid.  Let  me  beg,  therefore,  that  you  will 
do  me  the  favor  of  giving  the  same  publicity  to  my  statement  that  Colonel 
Walton's  has  received. 

"At  the  provisional  congress  which  met  in  Montgomery,  I  was  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  devising  a  flag.  We  had  hundreds  of  designs 
submitted  to  us  from  all  parts  of  the  country.  Not  one  of  them  in  the 
least  resembled  the  battle  flag.  The  committee  could  not  agree  upon  a 
flag.  They  finally  determined  to  submit  four  designs  to  congress,  from 
which  they  should  by  vote  select  one.  One  of  the  four  was  the  flag  that 
was  adopted,  the  first  flag  of  the  Confederacy  ;  a  field  of  three  horizontal 
bars  or  stripes  red,  white  and  red,  with  blue  union  and  stars.  Another  of 
the  four  was  a  red  field  with  a  blue  ring  or  circle  in  the  centre.  Another 
was  composed  of  a  number  of  horizontal  stripes  (I  forget  how  many),  of 
red  and  blue  (none  white),  with  blue  union  and  stars  like  the  first.  The 
fourth  was  a  saltiere,  as  it  is  called  in  heraldry,  the  same  as  a  St.  Andrew's 
cross  of  blue,  with  white  margin,  or  border,  on  a  red  field  with  white  stars 


FLAG  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES.  407 

equal  to  the  number  of  states  on  the  cross.  This  was  my  design,  and  urged 
upon  the  congress  earnestly  by  me.  Now  the  only  difference  between  this 
and  the  confederate  battle  flag  is  that  the  latter  was  made  square  for  greater 
lightness  and  portability,  while  the  one  submitted  to  congress  was,  of  course, 
of  the  usual  proportions  of  a  flag,  i.  e.  oblong.  Models  of  considerable 
size,  of  the  four  flags  submitted,  were  made  of  colored  cambric,  and  hung 
up  in  the  hall  where  congress  sat  ;  and  they  were  afterwards  long  in  my 
possession,  as  was  also  the  first  Confederate  flag  (made  of  merino,  there 
being  no  bunting  at  hand),  that  within  an  hour  or  two  of  its  adoption 
(thanks  to  fair  and  nimble  fingers !)  floated  over  the  state  Capitol  of  Ala- 
bama where  congress  held  its  sessions.  Unfortunately,  they  were  all  lost  or 
destroyed  during  the  war.  If  they  could  be  produced,  they  would  set- 
tle the  question  as  to  the  origin  of  the  confederate  battle-flag.  But 
there  must  be  many  members  of  the  provisional  congress  who  remember 
and  can  testify  to  the  correctness  of  the  above  statements.  Now,  all  this 
happened  before  you  captured  Fort  Sumter,  before  April t  1861,  some 
time  during  which  month,  Colonel  Walton  says,  Mr.  Hancock,  at  his  request 
designed  his  flag. 

"  Excuse  me,  dear  Genera],  this  long  epistle,  which  possibly  may  suggest 
monies  parturient,  etc.  But  if  Colonel  Walton  is  right  in  supposing 
that  his  design  is  worthy  of  careful  preservation  as  a  historical  memento, 
and  as  in  your  letter  to  Dr.  Palmer,  president  of  the  Southern  Historical 
Society,  you  say  that  information  concerning  the  flag  in  question  "  might 
be  of  historical  interest  hereafter,"  and  enclose  him  a  copy  of  your  letter 
to  Captain  Preble  for  preservation  in  the  archives  of  the  society,  I  hope 
my  vindication  of  the  truth  of  history,  even  in  a  matter  so  unimport- 
ant in  itself,  may  be  considered  worthy  of  publication  in  the  Times,  and 
of  being  filed  away  also  with  your  and  Colonel  Walton's  letter,  in  the  arch- 
ives of  the  same  society. 

"  With  sentiments  of  the  highest  regard,  lam,  my  dear  General,  very 
faithfully  yours,  '*  WILLIAM  PORCHER  MILES." 


The  subject  of  a  national  flag  still  continued  to  be  discussed 
from  time  to  time  in  the  confederate  congress  and  by  the  south- 
ern newspaper  press  though  no  decisive  action  was  taken  until 
the  spring  of  1863. 

On  the  yth  of  December,  1861,  the  Richmond  Dispatch  held 
the  following  language  respecting  the  first  confederate  flag  of  the 
stars  and  bars  : 

"  The  adoption  of  our  present  flag  was  a  natural,  but  most  per- 
nicious blunder.  As  the  old  flag  itself  was  not  the  author  of  our 


408  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

wrongs,  we  tore  off  a  piece  of  the  dear  old  rag  and  set  it  up  as  a 
standard.  We  took  it  for  granted  a  flag  was  a  divisible  thing 
and  proceeded  to  set  off  our  proportion.  So  we  took,  at  a 
rough  calculation,  our  share  of  the  stars  and  our  fraction  of  the 
stripes,  and  put  them  together  and  called  them  the  Confederate 
flag.  Even  as  Aaron  of  old  put  the  gold  into  the  fire  and  then 
came  out  this  calf,  so  certain  stars  and  stripes  went  into  com- 
mittee, and  then  came  out  this  flag.  All  this  was  honest  and 
fair  to  a  fault.  We  were  clearly  entitled  to  from  seven  to  eleven 
of  the  stars,  and  three  or  four  of  the  stripes. 

"  Indeed,  as  we  were  maintaining  the  principles  it  was  intended  to 
represent^  and  the  north  had  abandoned  them,  we  were  honestly  en- 
titled to  the  whole  flag.  Had  we  kept  it,  and  fought  for  it  and 
under  it,  and  conquered  it  from  the  north,  it  would  have  been 
no  robbery,  but  all  right  and  fair.  And  we  should  either  have 
done  this,  /.  e.,  kept  the  flag  as  a  whole,  or  else  we  should  have 
abandoned  it  as  a  whole  and  adopted  another.  But  if  we  did 
not  choose  to  assert  our  title  to  the  whole,  was  it  politic  or  ju- 
dicious to  split  the  flag  and  claim  one  of  the  fractions  ?  We 
had  an  equal  right  also  to  Hail  Columbia  and  Yankee  Doodle. 
We  might  have  adopted  a  part  of  Yankee  Doodle  (say  every 
third  stanza),  or  else  Yankee  Doodle  with  variations,  as  our  na- 
tional air.  In  the  choice  of  an  air  we  were  not  guilty  of  this 
absurdity,  but  we  have  perpetrated  one  exactly  parallel  to  it  in 
the  choice  of  a  national  flag.  There  is  no  exaggeration  in  the 
illustration.  It  seems  supremely  ridiculous,  yet  it  scarcely  does 
our  folly  justice. 

"  There  is  but  one  feature  essential  to  a  flag,  and  that  is  dis- 
tinctness. Beauty,  appropriateness,  good  taste,  are  all  desirable, 
but  the  only  thing  indispensable,  is  distinctness,  wide,  plain,  un- 
mistakable distinction  from  other  flags.  Unfortunately  this  in- 
dispensable thing  is  just  the  thing  which  the  confederate  flag 
lacks.  And  failing  in  this,  it  is  a  lamentable  and  total  failure, 
absolute  and  irredeemable." 

IC  The  failure  is  in  a  matter  of  essence.  It  is  as  complete  as 
that  of  writing  which  cannot  be  read,  of  a  gun  which  cannot  be 
shot,  of  a  coat  which  cannot  be  worn.  It  is  the  play  of  Hamlet 
with  the  part  of  Hamlet  left  out.  A  flag  which  does  not  dis- 
tinguish may  be  a  very  nice  piece  of  bunting,  it  may  be  hand- 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  409 

somely  executed,  tasteful,  expressive,  and  a  thousand  other  things, 
but  it  has  no  title  at  all  to  bear  the  name  of  flag. 

We  knew  the  flag  we  had  to  fight,  yet  instead  of  getting  as 
far  from  it,  we  were  guilty  of  the  huge  mistake  of  getting  as  near 
to  it  as  possible.  We  sought  similarity,  adopting  a  principle  dia- 
metrically wrong,  we  made  a  flag  as  nearly  like  theirs  as  could  only 
under  favorable  circumstances,  be  distinguished  from  it.  Under 
unfavorable  circumstances  (such  as  constantly  occur  in  practice), 
the  two  flags  are  indistinguishable.  In  the  wars  of  the  Roses 
in  Great  Britain  one  side  adopted  the  white  and  the  other  the 
red  rose.  Suppose  that  one  side  had  adopted  milk  white  and  the 
other  flesh  white,  or  one  a  deep  pink  and  the  other  a  lighter  shade 
of  pink,  would  there  have  been  any  end  to  the  confusion  ? 

"  When  a  body  of  men  is  approaching  in  time  of  war  it  is  rather 
an  important  matter  to  ascertain,  if  practicable,  whether  they  are 
friends  or  foes.  Certainly  no  question  could  well  be  more  radi- 
cal in  its  influence  upon  our  actions,  plans,  and  movements.  To 
solve  this  important  question  is  the  object  of  a  flag.  When  they 
get  near  us  there  may  be  other  means  of  information  :  but  to  dis- 
tinguish friends  from  enemies  at  a  distance  is  the  specific  purpose 
of  a  flag.  Human  ingenuity  is  great,  and  may  conceive  some  other 
small  purposes,  presentations,  toasts,  speeches,  etc.,  but  that  this 
is  the  great  end  of  a  flag,  will  not  be  denied  :  and  it  is  in  this  that 
the  confederate  flag  fails. 

"There  is  no  case  in  history  in  which  broad  distinction  in  the 
symbols  of  the  combatants  was  more  necessary  than  it  has  been 
in  the  present  war.  Our  enemies  are  of  the  same  race  with 
ourselves,  of  the  same  color  and  even  shade  of  complexion,  they 
speak  the  same  language,  wear  like  clothing,  and  are  of  like  form 
and  stature.  (The  more  shame  that  they  should  make  war  upon 
us.) 

"  Our  general  appearance  being  the  same  we  must  rely  solely 
upon  symbols  for  distinction.  The  danger  of  mistake  is  great 
after  all  possible  precautions  have  been  taken,  sufficient  atten- 
tion has  never  been  paid  to  this  important  matter,  involving  life 
or  death,  victory  or  defeat.  Our  badges,  uniforms,  flags,  should 
be  perfectly  distinguishable  from  those  of  the  enemy.  Our 
first  and  distant  information  is  dependent  solely  on  the  flag." 
52 


410  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

A  month  later,  Jan.  2,  1862,  a  Richmond  correspondent  wrote 
the  Charleston  Mercury  : 

"  Quite  a  number  of  new  fangled  flags  are  exhibited  in  the 
windows  of  the  Despatch  office  at  Richmond.  The  latest,  which 
is  gotten  up  with  great  care  and  neatness,  represents  in  tri-colors, 
three  equal  horizontal  bars  ;  lower  black,  middle  purple,  upper 
white  with  stars  in  it.  The  black  bar  is  designed  to  notify 
mankind  that  the  confederacy  sprung  from  black  republicanism. 
Hah  !  how  would  a  buzzard  sitting  on  a  cotton  bale  with  a  chew 
of  tobacco  in  his  mouth  a  little  nigger  in  one  claw,  and  a  pal- 
metto tree,  answer  ?  Nothing  could  be  more  thoroughly  and  com- 
prehensively southern."1 

Jan.  17,  1862.  During  the  night  a  Confederate  flag,  which 
had  been  flying  from  the  yard  of  a  Mr.  Griffin,  at  Lynchburg, 
Va.,  was  forcibly  torn  down  by  some  unknown  person,  the  flag 
stafF  broken  in  two,  and  the  cord  by  which  the  flag  was  hoisted 
cut  up  into  small  fragments.  The  flag  itself  was  torn  into  tat- 
ters, and  from  its  appearance,  when  found,  would  seem  to  in- 
dicate that  the  guilty  party  desired  particularly  to  strip  the  stars 
from  it,' as  not  a  vestige  of  any  of  them  was  left.2 

February  nth,  1862,  the  Richmond  Examiner  published  the 
following  communication,  from  a  correspondent,  arguing  that  the 
proper  national  emblem  for  the  south,  should  be  a  single  star.3 
The  editor  disapproved  of  the  idea  as  not  original,  and  suggested 
a  sable  horse  as  a  more  appropriate  symbol. 

"d  national  emblem  should  symbolize  the  national  government 
in  its  history,  nature,  office  and  fundamental  principles. 

"  The  lion  of  England  ascribes  the  royal  character,  and  undis- 
puted supremacy  of  the  king  of  beasts  to  that  noble  government. 


1  Moore's  Rebellion  Record,  vol.  iv.  2 Lynchburg  Republican,  Jan.  18,  1862. 

3  A  Southern  poet  writes  : 

"  Now  that  northern  treachery  attempts  our  rights  to  mar 

We  hoist  on  high  the  bonnie  blue  flag  that  bears  a  single  star. 

"  First,  gallant  South  Carolina  nobly  made  the  stand  ; 
Then  came  Alabama,  who  took  her  by  the  hand ; 
Next,  quickly,  Mississippi,  Georgia  and  Florida; 
All  raised  the  flag,  the  bonnie  blue  flag  that  bears  a  single  star." 

The  poet  then  urges  Texas  and  fair  Louisiana  to  join  them  in  the  fight  and  trusts 
Virginia,  the  old  dominion,  will  be  impelled  by  example  to  link  her  fate  with  the 
young  confederacy,  and  adds  : 

44  Cheer,  boys,  cheer,  raise  the  joyous  shout 
For  Arkansas  and  North  Carolina  now  have  both  gone  out ; 
And  let  another  rousing  cheer  for  Tennessee  be  given 
The  single  star  of  the  bonnie  blue  flag  has  proved   to  be  eleven.'" 

The  Bonnie  Blue  Flag, 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  411 

"  Various  nations,  as  Austria,  Russia,  etc.,  have  assumed  the 
free  eagle,  as  typical  of  the  characteristics  of  their  governments. 

"  It  is  believed  to  be  susceptible  of  proof,  that  the  single  star  is 
our  proper  national  emblem. 

"  Inasmuch  as  there  are  various  orders  and  classes  of  stars,  it  is 
proper  that  a  question  be  first  raised  in  that  connection.  In  this 
view  we  should  not  think  of  our  star  as  one  of  the  so-called  fixed 
stars,  which  are,  to  human  sight  m  their  order,  almost  too  small 
to  be  assigned,  mere  twinkling  points,  without  apparent  career, 
having,  as  far  as  men  have  yet  discovered,  no  influence  in  crea- 
tion, unless  we  accept  the  conjecture  of  astronomers,  that  they 
are  suns,  the  centres  of  other  systems  than  ours  ;  in  which  case, 
though  these  reasons  disappear,  a  yet  stronger  one  arises  in  the 
fact  that,  as  suns,  they  would  shine  by  inherent  rather  than 
borrowed  light,  which  idea  will  be  found  inapplicable.  But  rather 
should  we  think  of  it  as  a  planet,  a  world  in  itself,  shining  steadily, 
having  an  evident  career,  bright  and  marked,  unchangeable,  com- 
plete, of  almighty  design,  an  essential  chord  in  the  universal 
harmony,  of  which  a  single  false  note,  the  slightest  irregularity, 
would  destroy  that  harmony  and  upturn  the  universe. 

"  Now  for  the  points  of  the  analogy  : 

"  i.  Our  government  hath  foundations  well  laid  and  sure. 
The  star  is  created,  placed  in  its  relative  position,  and  held  there, 
coursing  on  through  space  by  an  almighty  hand,  we  ask  no  more. 
Though  all  the  firmament  were  studded  thick  as  the  silver  dust 
that  sprinkled  the  gorgeous  milky-way,  and  every  star  were  as 
thickly  inhabited,  the  universe  combined  could  not  affect  one 
tittle  in  its  integrity,  nor  move  one  jot  from  its  course,  the  single 
star  so  created,  so  placed,  and  so  held.  The  almighty  hand  we 
do  not  defy;  human  hands  we  do.  The  star,  then,  well  sym- 
bolizes the  fact  that  our  government  is  durably  founded. 

ct  2.  The  confederate  government,  as  the  prominent  idea  of  its 
constitution,  possesses  no  powers  of  its  own,  but  simply  reflects 
such  as  it  receives,  and  so  symbolizes  the  nature  of  our  govern- 
ment. 

"  3.  Inasmuch  as  the  star  borrows  its  light  from  a  source  pos- 
sessing inherent  light  —  the  sun  ;  as  the  emblem  of  the  confe- 
derate government,  would  indicate  that  the  source  from  which  that 
government  derives  its  powers,  possesses  itself,  inherent  powers  ; 


412  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

in  other  words,  that  the  states  are  Independent  sovereigns  ;  and 
as  this  fact  is  a  fundamental  principle  of  our  government,  the 
star  is  eminently  appropriate  as  indicative  thereof. 

"  4.  This  state  sovereignty  is  no  new  principle,  but  equally  ori- 
ginal and  eternal  ;  and  as  the  very  right  of  secession  was  based 
upon  the  fact  that  this  principle  was  original  to  the  old  contract, 
this  fact  should  be  indicated  by  retaining,  as  our  emblem,  that 
which  originally  symbolized  this  relation,  to  wit :  the  single  star. 

"  5.  As  we  are  not  an  unrecorded  people  new  sprung  from  the 
womb  of  time,  but  have  a  history  peculiarly  our  own  ;  glori- 
ously illustrated  by  the  deeds  which  our  great  southern  sires 
have  done,  it  is  fit  that,  as  southerners,  we  retain  some  suitable 
connection  with  the  past,  and  the  single  star,  as  the  symbol  of 
that  grand  principle  (lost  by  the  abomination  of  despotism,  and 
our  peculiar  property),  which  was  the  source  of  all  that  is  to  be 
remembered  in  the  system  of  that  past,  furnishes  that  suitable 
connection. 

"  6.  We  stand  preeminent,  bordered,  on  either  side,  by  nations 
steeped  in  political  darkness.  The  stars  in  their  courses,  lifted 
on  high,  shine  amid  surrounding  darkness,  and  so  illustrate  our 
position  and  functions.  Accordingly,  as  the  star  was  selected  to 
guide  the  wise  men  to  the  source  of  human  blessedness,  so  the 
star  of  our  confederacy  shall  be  a  beacon  to  the  nations,  to  guide 
them  to  that  utmost  of  political  blessings,  pure  republican  liberty. 

"  So  much  for  the  single  star  of  itself ;  now  to  view  it  compara- 
tively. 

"  The  sun  and  moon  are  both  set  by  the  Almighty,  but, 

u  I.  The  star  isa  better  emblem  than  the  sun,  because  the  sun 
shines  by  a  light  inherent  in  itself,  not  borrowed  and  reflected,  like 
the  light  of  the  star,  or  the  powers  of  our  government.  More- 
over, the  sun  puts  out  of  view  all  other  lights  within  the  com- 
pass of  its  power ;  no  states  right  man  will  agree  that  such  an 
idea  shall  be  expressed,  even  remotely  by  the  emblem  of  the 
confederate  government. 

"  2.  The  star  is  better  than  the  queen  of  night,  because  she,  to 
human  sight,  is  ever  changing,  waxing  or  waning,  and  one  no  less 
than  the  other  ;  the  only  course  of  change  for  us  must  be  onward. 

"  3.  The  single  star  is  better  than  a  number  of  stars,  pro- 
portioned to  the  number  of  states,  for  if  such  a  number  of 
stars  be  the  emblem  of  the  nation,  any  change  in  the  number  of 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  413 

the  states  would  necessitate  a  change  in  the  emblem,  and  this  involves 
the  idea  that  the  character,  or  rather  the  completeness  of  the  nation- 
ality depends  upon  the  number  of  states  composing  it,  the  very  idea 
which  proved  so  pernicious  under  the  late  union,  and  which,  entirely 
opposed  as  it  is  to  our  whole  system,  we  should  most  carefully 
avoid.  This  number  of  stars,  each  for  a  state,  is  further  objec- 
tionable,  because  the  states  possess  inherent  powers,  are  suns, 
while  a  star  simply  reflects. 

"  To  the  southern  cross,  besides  what  has  just  been  said,  an 
objection  is  found  in  the  fact  that,  however  far  sighted  our  states- 
men, none  of  them  can  make  that  constellation  from  even  the 
southernmost  point  of  the  confederacy. 

"  //  is  not  ours ;  we  are  not  quite  far  enough  from  the  north, 
however  painful  the  fact  ;  and  for  us,  a  people  righting  for  our 
own  rights,  to  assume  it,  would  be  exceedingly  unbecoming,  as 
a  clear  violation  of  the  rights  of  the  dwellers  in  Terra  del  Fuego, 
a  people  weaker  than  ourselves. 

"  The  objection  to  the  cross  itself,  as  the  prominent  feature  of 
our  flag,  may  be  found  on  inspecting  a  chart  of  the  flags  of  other 
nations,  where  it  will  be  found,  in  every  variety  of  shape  and 
color,  endlessly  repeated. 

It  is  right,  and  certainly  desired  by  every  thoughtful  man  in 
the  nation,  that  some  thankful  acknowledgement  of  the  Deity 
be  a  feature  of  our  banner  :  but  the  prominent  feature  of  the  na- 
tional banner  should  be  the  national  emblem,  and  that  emblem  for 
us,  a  single  star." 

To  the  suggestions  of  his  correspondent  the  editor  of  the  Rich- 
mond Examiner,  remarks  :  "  before  we  get  our  national  emblem 
we  must  get  rid  of  stars  and  stripes  in  all  their  variations.  So, 
too,  of  all  arrangements  of  red,  white  and  blue.  Nothing  can 
be  gotten  from  either  but  plagiarisms,  poor  imitations,  feeble 
fancies.  Our  coat-of-arms  must  be  not  only  in  accord  with 
the  higher  law  of  heraldry,  but,  above  all,  original,  our  own,  and 
not  another's. 

"  Not  one  of  the  thousand  writers  on  this  topic  has  yet  presented 
an  original  or  appropriate  idea.  Yet  there  is  a  thought  which 
starts  to  the  mind's  eye. 

"  The  national  emblem  of  the  equestrian  south  is  the  horse. 
Its  colors  are  black  and  white.  Its  shield  is  the  sable  horse  of 


414  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Manassas,  on  a  silver  field  ;  its  flag  is  the  white  flag  with  the 
black  horse.  Both  colors  are  already  united  to  make  the  grey 
of  the  confederate  uniform  ;  and  emblem  and  colors  are  alike 
suggestive  of  the  country  and  its  history,  and  neither  belong  to 
any  other  nation  of  Christians." 

March  6,  1862.  The  Charleston  (South  Carolina),  Mercury 
proposed  a  flag,  divided  diagonally  (see  plate  ix),  half  white  and 
half  black,  and  argued  :  "  It  is  unlike  the  ensign  of  any  other 
nation  and  especially  unlike  that  of  the  Yankee  nation.  Those 
that  imagine  a  flag  should  be  symbolical  will  find  in  the  colors  of 
this  one,  white  and  black,  an  obvious  significance.  Such  a  stand- 
ard would  typify  our  faith  in  the  peculiar  institution,  and  be  an 
enduring  mark  of  our  resolve  to  retain  that  institution  while  we 
exist  as  a  free  and  independent  people.  For  maritime  uses  this 
proposed  flag,  although  it  discards  the  everlasting  Yankee  stars, 
and  the  worn  out  combinations  of  red,  white  and  blue,  would  be 
distinguishable  at  as  great  a  distance  as  any  other  that  can  be 
devised." 

Another  device  proposed  about  this  time  was  a  Phoenix  rising 
from  a  bed  of  flame  with  the  motto,  "  We  rise  again,"  typical  of 
the  death  of  the  old  and  the  resurrection  of  the  new  union. 
Another  proposed  flag,  had  a  red  field  charged  with  a  white 
St.  Andrew's  cross,  supporting  in  its  centre  a  blue  shield  blazoned 
with  a  single  yellow  star  (see  plate  ix).  Still  another,  was  formed 
of  three  horizontal  bars,  red,  white,  red,  having  a  double  blue 
square,  or  an  eight  pointed  star,  in  the  centre,  extending  half  way 
across  the  red  bars,  blazoned  with  eight  white  stars  arranged  in 
a  circle  (see  plate  ix).  Another  suggested  flag,  was  half  blue 
and  white,  diagonally  divided  next  the  lufF,  and  the  outer  half,  or 
fly,  a  red  perpendicular  bar.  It  is  not  known  who  were  the 
designers  of  these  flags. 

In  1863,  Mrs.  Breckenridge,  wife  of  General  John  C.  Breck- 
enridge,  who  just  before  the  war  was  the  vice  president  of  the 
United  States,  but  then  a  major  general  in  the  confederate  army, 
constructed  a  magnificent  stand  of  colors  from  her  wedding 
dress,  which  her  husband  in  her  name,  presented  to  the  most 
gallant  and  brave  regiment  of  his  division,  the  2Oth  Tennessee 
regiment,  known  as  the  Battle  regiment.1 


1  Jackson  Crisis,  Feb.  25,  1863. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  415 

In  April,  1863,  while  the  subject  of  a  national  flag  was  under 
discussion  before  the  confederate  congress  at  Richmond,  Mr. 
Wm.  T.  Thompson,  editor  of  the  Savannah  Morning  News,  sug- 
gested a  white  flag  with  the  southern  cross  or  battle  flag  for  its 
union,  as  a  national  ensign  for  the  confederacy,  and  to  demonstrate 
the  beauty  of  the  design,  got  Capt.  Wm.  Ross  Postell  formerly 
of  the  Unted  States  and  Texas  navies,  to  make  a  colored  drawing 
of  his  proposed  flag.  His  editorial,  published  in  the  News, 
April  23,  which  follows,  was  republished  with  approval  by  the 
Richmond  papers,  about  the  time  the  vote  was  taken  in  the 
house  on  the  flag,  but  after  the  senate  had  adopted  a  white  flag 
with  a  broad  blue  bar  in  its  centre.  On  motion  of  Hon.  Julian 
Hartridge,  then  chairman  of  the  house  committee  on  the  flag, 
the  senate  bill  was  amended,  and  the  battle  flag,  on  a  plain  white 
field,  adopted.  There  was  another  proposition  before  the  house 
to  substitute  for  the  broad  blue  bar  in  the  middle  of  the  flag  a 
broad  blue  border  on  the  fly  or  end  opposite  the  union.1 
Mr.  Thompson  says  in  his  editorial : 

"  The  confederate  congress  has  at  length  adopted  a  great  seal, 
which  we  think  is  both  appropriate  and  in  good  taste.  The  seal 
is  thus  described  :  c  An  equestrian  portrait  of  Washington  (after 
the  statue  which  surmounts  his  monument  in  the  Capitol  square 
at  Richmond),  surrounded  with  a  wreath  composed  of  the  prin- 
cipal agricultural  products  of  the  south  (cotton,  tobacco,  sugar 
cane,  corn,  wheat  and  rice),  having  around  its  margin,  the  words, 
"  SEAL  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA,  23d  Feb- 
ruary, 1862,"  together  with  the  motto,  Deo  duce  Vincennes  [with 
God  for  our  leader  we  will  conquer.]2 

"  This  device  and  motto  will  be  approved  by  the  good  taste  and 
moral  sentiment  of  our  people,1  and  it  now  only  remains  for  con- 
better  Wm.  T.  Thompson  to  G.  H.  P. 

2  The  senate's  design  was  an  armed  youth  in  classic  costume,  standing  ;  beneath,  a 
woman  is  clinging.  The  whole  surrounded  by  a  margin  of  rice,  cotton,  tobacco  and 
sugar  cane.  Motto  :  Pro  A<vis  et  Focis. 

According  to  the  Richmond  Whig  of  Sept.  2,5,  1862,  a  design  that  passed  the 
senate,  represented  in  the  foreground  a  confederate  soldier,  in  position  to  charge  bayo- 
net ;  in  the  middle  distance  a  woman  with  a  child  in  front  of  a  church,  both  with 
hands  uplifted  in  the  attitude  of  prayer  5  for  a  background,  a  homestead  in  the  plain, 
with  mountains  in  the  distance  beneath  the  meridian  sun  j  the  whole  surrounded  by 
a  wreath  composed  of  the  stalks  of  sugar  cane,  the  rice,  the  cotton  and  the  tobacco 
plant,  the  margin  inscribed  with  the  words  Seal  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America 
above,  and  Our  homes  and  Constitutions  beneath.  This  seal  was  never  used. 


416  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

gress  to  adopt  an  appropriate  flag  for  the  confederacy,  in  order 
that  we  may  present  to  the  world  the  symbols  as  well  as  the 
power  and  substance  of  a  great  and  glorious  nationality.  During 
the  first  session  of  the  provisional  congress,  the  subject  of  a  flag 
occupied  much  of  the  attention  of  that  body.  Designs  were  in- 
vited, and  numerous  model  flags  were  received  from  all  portions 
of  the  confederacy,  and  submitted  to  the  committee  on  the  flag 
and  seal,  but  for  various  reasons  the  committee  was  unable  to 
adopt  any  of  the  designs  presented,  and  congress  was  on  the  eve 
of  adjourning  without  a  confederate  flag,  when  necessity  com- 
pelled them,  almost  impromptu,  to  adopt  our  present  flag  [the 
stars  and  bars].  Since  then  the  subject  has  been  frequently  dis- 
cussed in  congress  and  by  the  press,  but  neither  have  been  able 
to  agree  upon  a  substitute  for  the  present  flag  to  which  all  object 
on  account  of  its  resemblance  to  that  of  the  abolition  despotism 
against  which  we  are  fighting.  To  avoid  the  evil  consequences 
growing  out  of  a  confusion  of  flags  on  the  battle-field,  General 
Beauregard,  we  believe,  adopted  the  southern  cross  or  battle 
flag,  which  has  so  grown  in  favor  with  the  army  as  to  be  almost 
universally  substituted  in  the  field  for  the  stars  and  bars.  This 
battle  flag  has  been  consecrated  by  the  best  blood  of  the  nation, 
it  is  hallowed  by  the  memories  of  glorious  victories,  it  is  sanc- 
tified by  the  symbol  of  our  religious  faith,  and  illuminated  by  the 
constellated  emblems  of  our  confederate  states,  but  it  is  in  some 
important  respects  unsuited  for  a  national  ensign.  Extended 
to  the  proper  dimensions  the  symmetry  of  its  design  would  be 
destroyed,  and  having  no  reverse  (no  union  down),  it  cannot  be 
used  as  a.  signal*  flag  of  distress.  The  objects  to  be  attained  in 
the  adoption  of  a  flag  are  simplicity,  distinctness,  significancy 
and  beauty.  To  combine  the  liberty  colors,  red,  white,  and  blue, 
so  as  to  accomplish  these  ends,  and  yet  to  avoid  too  great  re- 
semblance to  the  flag  of  some  other  nation,  is  the  difficulty  to  be 
overcome.  By  a  very  simple  arrangement  all  these  ends  may  be 
attained,  and  to  our  taste,  a  very  appropriate  and  beautiful  flag 
formed.  Our  idea  is  simply  to  combine  the  present  battle  flag 
with  a  pure  white  standard  sheet ;  our  southern  cross,  blue,  on 
a  red  field,  to  take  the  place  on  the  white  flag  that  is  occupied  by 
the  blue  union  in  the  old  United  States  flag  or  the  St.  George's 
cross  in  the  British  flag.  As  a  people,  we  are  fighting  to  main- 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  417 

tain  the  heaven  ordained  supremacy  of  the  white  man  over  the 
inferior  or  colored  race  ;  a  white  flag  would  thus  be  emblema- 
tical of  our  cause.  Upon  a  red  field  would  stand  forth  our  south- 
ern cross,  gemmed  with  the  stars  of  our  confederation,  all 
combined,  preserving  in  beautiful  contrast  the  red,  white  and 
blue.  Such  a  flag  would  be  chaste,  beautiful  and  significant, 
while  it  would  be  easily  made  of  silk  or  bunting,  and  would  be 
readily  distinguished  from  the  flags  of  other  nations. 

"  It  may  be  objected  that  a  flag  in  which  white  prevails  might 
be  mistaken  for  a  flag  of  truce,  that  it  could  not  be  as  distinctly 
seen  as  red  or  blue,  that  it  would  be  easily  soiled,  etc.  The 
first  objection  is  not  good  for  the  reason  that  the  red  field  and 
blue  cross  would  be  a  prominent  feature  of  the  flag,  and  from  its 
position  at  the  top  against  the  staff  could  not  be  hidden  by  the 
folds  of  the  flag.  In  the  smoke  of  battle  or  at  sea  against  the 
blue  sky,  the  white  would  stand  as  vividly  as  either  the  stars  or 
stripes  of  abolitiondom,  the  tricolor  of  France,  or  the  red  flag  of 
England;1  as  for  the  other  objections,  we  have  always  observed 
that  the  white  stripes  have  stood  the  battle  and  the  breeze  as  well 
and  looked  as  fresh  and  bright  as  the  red." 

After  this  communication  was  in  type  the  editor  of  the  News 
received  a  dispatch  announcing  to  him  that  the  senate  had  adopted 
the  flag,  he  had  suggested,  with  the  addition  of  a  blue  stripe  to 
the  centre  of  the  white  field.  He  states  his  objections  to  this 
flag,  in  the  following  article  which  was  published  in  the  News  of 
the  28th  of  April. 

"  It  appears  the  house  of  representatives  have  yet  to  act  upon  the 
new  flag  adopted  by  the  senate,  and  we  learn  from  the  Richmond 
papers  that  it  is  probable  that  the  house  will  amend  it  by  striking  out 
the  blue  bar  in  the  centre  of  the  white  field.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
they  will  do  so,  as  the  bar  is  objectionable  on  several  accounts, 
and  is  a  deformity  to  what  would  otherwise  be  a  most  beautiful, 
significant  and  appropriate  flag.  Let  any  one  make  a  drawing 
of  the  flag  in  colors,  on  paper,  and  they  will  at  once  discover 
that  the  blue  bar  running  up  the  centre  of  the  white  field  and 

1  After  this  flag  was  adopted  it  was  found  in  use  to  resemble,  and  was  often  mistaken 
for,  a  flag  of  truce.  To  obviate  that  defect  a  broad,  red,  perpendicular  stripe  was  added 
to  the  fly  or  outer  extremity  of  the  flag. 

53 


418  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

joining  with  the  right  lower  arm  of  the  blue  cross,  is  in  bad  taste, 
and  utterly  destructive  of  the  symmetry  and  harmony  of  the  de- 
sign. The  broad,  horizontal  blue  bar,  forming  on  the  end  of  the 
smaller  blue  bar,  belonging  to  the  cross,  and  which  extends  up 
to  the  upper  corner  of  the  red  union  at  an  angle  of  about  forty- 
five  degrees,  presents  to  the  eye  a  disproportioned,  awkward  and 
unmeaning  figure,  not  unlike  a  blue  handled  jack  knife  or  razor 
with  the  blade  not  quite  opened  to  the  full  extent.  Another 
objection  is  the  disproportion  which  the  lower  white  bar,  ex- 
tending the  full  length  of  the  flag,  bears  to  the  shorter  blue  and 
white  bars  above.  And  still  another  objection  is  that  the  large 
blue  bar  detracts  from  the  conspicuousness  of  the  blue  cross. 
Still  another  objection  is  the  resemblance  which  the  bars  will 
still  have  to  the  Yankee  flag.  If  for  no  other  reason  than  this 
we  should  discard  the  bars  and  everything  that  resembles  or  is 
suggestive  of  the  old  stripes.  While  we  consider  the  flag  which 
has  been  adopted  by  the  senate  as  a  very  decided  improvement 
of  the  old  United  States  flag,  we  still  think  the  battle  flag  on  a 
pure  white  field  would  be  more  appropriate  and  handsome.  Such 
a  flag  would  be  a  suitable  emblem  of  our  young  confederacy, 
and  sustained  by  the  brave  hearts  and  strong  arms  of  the  south, 
it  would  soon  take  rank  among  the  proudest  ensigns  of  the  na- 
tions, and  be  hailed  by  the  civilized  world  as  THE  WHITE 
MAN'S  FLAG."  His  remonstrance  against  the  addition  of  the 
blue  bar  appears  to  have  been  heeded.  For  on  the  4th  of  May 
1863,  he  writes  :  "  We  are  pleased  to  learn  by  our  dispatch  from 
Richmond  that  congress  has  had  the  good  taste  to  adopt  for  the 
flag  of  the  confederacy,  the  battle  flag  on  a  plain  white  field  in 
lieu  of  the  blue  and  white  bars  proposed  by  the  senate.  The 
flag  as  adopted  is  precisely  the  same  as  that  suggested  by  us  a 
short  time  since,  and  is,  in  our  opinion,  much  more  beautiful  and 
appropriate  thaft  either  the  red  and  white  bars  or  the  white  field 
and  blue  bar  as  first  adopted  by  the  senate.  As  a  national 
emblem  it  is  significant  of  our  higher  cause  the  cause  of  a 
superior  race,  and  a  higher  civilization  contending  against  igno- 
rance, infidelity  and  barbarism.  [?]  Another  merit  in  the  new  flag 
is  that  it  bears  no  resemblance  to  the  now  infamous  banner  of 
the  Yankee  vandals." 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  419 

May  iQth,  he,  in  the  continuation  of  the  subject,  says  :  "  We 
are  pleased  to  observe  that  the  new  Confederate  states'  standard, 
wherever  it  has  been  given  to  the  breeze,  elicits  the  admiration 
of  the  press  and  people."  Noticing  its  display  from  the  Capitol 
at  Richmond,  the  Examiner  says :  "It  met  the  approving  gaze  of 
thousands."  The  Dispatch  says:  "The  new  flag  which  was  dis- 
played from  the  Capitol  on  Thursday,  it  is  gratifying  to  say,  gives 
universal  satisfaction.  Almost  any  sort  of  flag,  to  take  the  place 
of  the  detested  parody  upon  the  stars  and  stripes,  for  so  long  the 
lawful  ensign  of  the  confederacy,  would  have  been  hailed  with 
pleasure  :  but  the  one  we  now  have  is  not  only  acceptable,  on 
this  ground,  but  on  account  of  its  own  appropriateness;  andx 
more  than  this,  again,  because  in  it  is  preserved  that  immortal 
banner,  the  battle  flag,  which  has  been  consecrated  on  so  many 
battle  fields,  and  has  been  followed  by  our  soldiers  to  so  many  glo- 
rious victories.  We  had  not  anticipated,  from  the  action  of 
congress  upon  the  subject,  a  result  so  sensible,  so  generally  satis- 
factory. The  council  of  many  on  such  a  topic  rarely  produces 
anything  but  abortions  ;  such  as  the  Stars  and  Bars  !  for  instance. 
Let  us  have  no  more  of  that,  but  hereafter  know  only  that  appro- 
priate and  beautiful  banner  hallowed  by  our  victories  and  now 
established  by  law." 

The  Charleston  Mercury  of  yesterday  says  :  "  The  new  con- 
federate flag  was  yesterday  [May  17,  1863,]  thrown  to  the 
breeze  from  the  ramparts  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  was  admired  by 
crowds  on  the  battery." 

On  the  aoth  of  May,  a  correspondent  wrote  to  the  Savan- 
nah News  :  "  Mr.  Editor  you  are  one  of  the  admirers  of  the 
new  flag,  and  you  copied  into  yesterday's  News  a  very  enthusi- 
astic panegyric  of  it  from  the  Richmond  Examiner.  But  I 
doubt  if  either  you  or  the  editor  of  the  Examiner  has  yet  seen 
the  flag  which  was  established  by  law.  The  picture  in  your 
office  (which  is  very  beautiful),  is  not  correct,  nor  have  I  seen 
one,  of  the  several  which  are  now  in  use,  in  and  around  this  city, 
which  is  proportioned  according  to  the  law.  If  there  was  such 
a  one  it  would  be  an  absurdity.  The  law  (as  published  in  the 
Savannah  Republican)^  makes  the  flag  twice  as  long  as  it  is  wide. 
Well  if  the  flag  is  three  feet  wide  it  must  be  six  feet  long.  In 
this  the  union  would  be  two  feet  square  and  would  occupy  two- 


420  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

thirds  of  the  width  and  one-third  of  the  length.  This  would 
leave  a  very  large  field  of  white  and  give  good  ground  for  the 
objection  urged  against  the  flag,  that  it  looks  like  a  flag  of  truce. 
I  think  the  large  white  field  was  the  result  of  an  accident.  The 
senate  placed  through  the  middle  of  the  white  a  horizontal 
bar  of  blue,  and  the  flag  was  made  long  in  order  to  exhibit  this 
blue  bar  to  advantage.  When  the  blue  bar  was  stricken  out 
the  flag  should  have  been  shortened,  but  in  the  haste  consequent 
upon  the  near  approach  of  the  close  of  the  session  it  was  over- 
looked. All  we  can  do  under  the  circumstances  is  to  make  our 
flags  in  the  proper  proportion  (like  the  one  in  your  picture),  and 
•trust  to  the  next  congress  either  to  restore  the  blue  bar  or  cur- 
tail the  quantity  of  white." 

The  editor  of  the  News  remarks,  the  objections  to  the  pro- 
portions to  the  new  flag  are  well  founded,  but  thinks  the  inten- 
tion of  the  law  was  not  so  much  to  prescribe  the  dimensions  as 
to  determine  the  combinations  of  the  new  flag.  The  design  of 
congress  was  to  establish  by  law,  as  the  confederate  ensign,  the 
battle  flag  on  a  white  field,  and  the  proportion  of  the  union 
to  the  width  of  the  flag,  was  very  properly  defined,  but  the 
length,  like  that  of  any  other  flag,  would  be  determined  by  good 
taste.  He  then  adds,  "  the  new  flag  has  been  displayed  by 
Captain  Cercopoly  on  the  steamer  Beauregard  for  several  days," 
and  asks  his  correspondent  to  take  a  look  at  that  well  propor- 
tioned flag,  when  he  thinks  he  will  ground  at  once  all  his  objec- 
tions to  the  new  ensign,  which  is  as  tasteful  as  it  is  unique  and 
simple. 

Gen.  Beauregard  presented  Capt.  Cercopoly  with  a  handsome 
union  jack  or  battle  flag  in  acknowledgement  of  his  naming  his 
steamer  for  him.  The  editor  says  he  doubts  not  :  "  That  union 
jack  will  be  borne  as  proudly  and  bravely  by  Capt.  Cercopoly, 
on  his  new  steamer,  as  was  the/™/  confederate  flag  borne  by  him 
on  the  little  steamer  Ida  in  defiance  of  the  shot  and  shell  of  the 
Yankees." 

We  have  shown  that  the  first  confedederate  states'  flag,  le- 
gally established,  was  the  well  known  stars  and  bars,  adopted 
by  the  convention  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1 86 1,  the  day  Abraham  Lincoln  was  inaugurated  president 
of  the  United  States  at  Washington.  This  flag  proving  unac- 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  421 

ceptable  to  the  southern  people,  from  its  general  similarity  in 
appearance,  at  a  distance,  to  the  old  stars  and  stripes,  and  creat- 
ing confusion  in  the  field,  especially  so  at  the  battle  of  Ma- 
nassas  or  Bull  run,  it  was  thought  some  change  should  be  made, 
and  at  the  suggestion  of  General  Beauregard,  a  flag  known  as  the 
southern  cross,  or  the  battle  flag,  was  adopted  for  field  service,  and 
continued  thence  to  be  the  only  flag  in  general  use  in  the  field 
throughout  the  war.  From  not  being  adapted  to  the  sea  service, 
as  it  could  not  be  reversed  as  a  signal  of  distress,  it  was  never  legal- 
ized j  and  the  stars  and  bars  continued  to  be  worn  by  fortresses 
and  hoisted  on  vessels  as  the  national  ensign  of  the  confederacy. 

A  change  of  flag,  however,  continued  to  be  the  subject  of  at- 
tention, and  in  May,  1863,  the  confederate  congress  at  Rich- 
mond established  as  the  national  ensign  for  the  confederacy  a 
plain  white  flag  having  for  its  union  the  southern  cross  or  battle 
flag  of  the  army. 

The  rebel  iron  clad  Atlanta  was  the  first  vessel  of  war  to  hoist 
the  new  flag,  and  it  was  announced  that  she  was  about  to  achieve 
the  most  signal  victory  of  the  war  and  so  properly  to  christen  it. 
On  the  yth  of  May,  1863,  the  people  of  Savannah  assembled^ 
masse  upon  the  wharves  to  bid  her  a  suitable  farewell  as  she  flaunted 
her  new  banner  and  steamed  away.  She  was  to  go  to  sea  via 
Warsaw  sound,  proceed  to  Port  Royal  and  do  such  destruction  as 
might  be  permitted  her,  and  then  push  on  to  Charleston,  where 
she  was  to  make  a  foray  upon  the  fleet  and  then  enter  the  city. 
Her  progress  down  the  bay  was  slow  for  causes  it  is  unnecessary 
here  to  explain.  "  The  best  laid  plans  of  mice  and  men  oft  gang 
aglee"  as  was  proved  in  this  instance.  On  the  lyth  of  June, 
the  anniversary  of  Bunker  hill,  the  Atlanta  was  met  in  Warsaw 
sound  by  the  United  States  monitors  Weehawken  and  Nahant  and 
getting  aground  was,  after  an  engagement  of  fifteen  minutes 
with  the  former,  in  such  a  helpless  condition  that  she  hauled 
down  her  new  rebel  colors,  and  tearing  ofF  a  piece  of  the  white 
of  her  flag,  hoisted  it  in  token  of  surrender. 

This,  the  second  national  flag  of  the  confederacy,  at  a  distance 
bore  a  close  resemblance  to  the  English  white  ensign,  and  was  also 
objected  to  as  resembling  a  flag  of  truce.  These  objections  ulti- 
mately proved  so  valid,  that  a  broad  transverse  strip  of  red  (see 
plate  ix),  was  added  to  the  end  or  fly  of  the  flag.  This,  the 


422  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

third  and  last  national  ensign  of  the  short  lived  confederacy,  was 
adopted  by  the  rebel  senate,  February  4, 1 865,  and  was  thus  offici- 
ally described  :  u  The  width,  two  thirds  of  its  length  ;  with  the  union, 
now  used  as  a  battle  flag,  to  be  in  width  three  fifths  of  the  width  of 
the  flag,  and  so  proportioned  as  to  leave  the  length  of  the  field  on  the 
side  of  the  union  twice  the  width  below  it ;  to  have  a  ground  of  red, 
and  broad  blue  saltier  thereon,  bordered  with  white  and  emblazoned 
with  mullets  or  Jive  pointed  stars  corresponding  in  number  to  that 
of  the  confederate  states.  The  f  eld  to  be  white  except  the  outer  half 
from  the  union,  which  shall  be  a  red  bar,  extending  the  width  of 
the  flag"*  Specimens  of  each  of  these  ensigns  were  captured  and 
are  preserved  in  the  flag  museum  of  the  United  States  war  de- 
partment. 

1  Army  and  Navy  Journal,  Feb.  1 1,  1865. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  423 


THE  END  OF  THE  WAR  AGAINST.  THE  FLAG  AND 

UNION. 

On  the  3d  of  April  1865,  the  national  ensign,  which  had  been 
gradually  restored  to  one  after  another  of  its  stolen  fortresses, 
again  waved  over  the  rebel  Capitol  at  Richmond.  Tidings  of 
its  fall  went  with  lightning  speed  over  the  loyal  north,  and  pub- 
lic demonstrations  and  delight  were  visible  everywhere.  At 
Washington  all  the  public  offices  were  closed,  and  all  business 
suspended.  "  In  New  York  there  was  an  immense,  spontane- 
ous gathering  of  men  in  Wall  street,  to  hear  the  news  as  it  was 
flashed  over  the  wires,  to  listen  to  the  voices  of  orators,  and  to  the 
sweet,  joyful  chimes  of  Trinity.  A  deep,  religious  feeling,  born 
of  joy  and  gratitude  because  of  the  deliverance  of  the  republic 
from  a  great  peril,  prevailed  in  that  almost  innumerous  throng, 
and  was  remarkably  manifested  when  thousands  of  voices  broke 
out  spontaneously  in  singing  the  Christian  Doxology,  to  the 
grand  air  of  Old  Hundred.1 

The  occupation  of  the  rebel  capital  on  the  3d,  of  April  with 
the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee  and  his  army  to  Gen.  Grant  on  the 
9th  of  April,  1865,  may  be  considered  to  have  virtually  ended  the 
civil  war.  There  were  other  rebel  armies  in  the  field,  but  the 
great  rebellion  had  collapsed,  exhausted,  and  as  a  matter  of  course 
those  armies  were  soon  surrendered  or  disbanded.  On  the  nth 
of  April,  Washington  city  was  brilliantly  illuminated  and  ablaze 
with  bonfires,  at  the  prospect  of  peace  and  reunion.  On  the 
1 2th,  the  war  department  issued  an  order  directing  a  discontinu- 
ance of  all  drafting  and  recruiting  for  the  army,  or  purchase  of 
munitions  of  war  supplies  ;  and  declaring  that  the  number  of 
general  and  staff  officers  would  be  speedily  reduced,  and  all 
military  restrictions  on  trade  and  commerce  be  removed  forth- 
with. This  virtual  proclamation  of  the  end  of  the  war  went  over 
the  land  on  the  anniversary  of  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Sumter, 
and  while  Gen.  Anderson  was  replacing  the  old  flag  over  the 
ruins  of  that  fortress.  Preparations  for  a  national  thanksgiving 
were  being  made,  when  the  national  joy  was  palsied  by  the  assas- 


1  Lossing's  Civil  Pfars  Vol.  HI. 


424  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

sination  of  the  president,  the  first  martyr  in  our  history,  who  had 
piloted  the  nation  through  its  great  war  to  the  end.  There  is 
no  need  to  repeat  the  story  of  that  dastardly  deed.  It  did  not 
disturb  the  prospects  of  peace,  and  while  it  gave  an  unenviable 
immortality  to  his  thearrical  assassin  it  crowned  President  Lin- 
coln with  a  martyr's  glory. 

Reraising  Our  Flag  over  the  Capitol  at  Richmond^  Va.  —  It 
is  probable  the  honor  of  raising  the  colors  of  the  United  States, 
over  the  Capitol  at  Richmond,  on  its  occupation  by  the  union 
forces,  was  sought  for  by  many  gallant  men.  There  is  evidence 
that  one  proposed  to  do  so  long  before  the  opportunity  was  really 
presented.  Nearly  a  week  before  the  surrender  of  the  city, 
young  Mr.  de  Peyster  wrote  to  a  young  friend  : 

"  My  dear  Lew  :  "  To-morrow  a  battle  is  expected,  the 
battle  of  the  war.  I  cannot  tell  you  any  of  the  facts,  for  they 
are  contraband  ;  but  we  are  all  ready  and  packed.  Any  way, 
I  expect  to  date  my  letter  soon,  if  I  escape,  Richmond,  March 


"  I  have  promised  to  carry  out  a  bet  made  by  my  general,  if 
we  take  Richmond,  to  put  a  certain  flag  he  has,  on  the  house 
of  J.  Davis,  or  on  the  rebel  Capitol,  or  perish  in  the  attempt." 

The  writer  of  this  letter  was  in  the  i8th  year  of  his  age,  a 
delicately  formed  child  of  wealth,  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest 
families  of  colonial  New  York,  and  allied  with  nearly  every  family 
of  consequence  in  that  state.  He  entered  the  army  to  seek  glory  ^ 
and  doubtless  felt  that  the  honor  of  a  long  line  of  ancestors  was 
placed  in  his  especial  keeping. 

Six  days  after  the  date  of  his  letter,  the  city  of  Richmond 
was  occupied  by  the  federal  troops  ;  and  among  the  first  to 
enter  it  was  Lieutenant  Johnston  Livingston  de  Peyster.  On 
the  pommel  of  his  saddle  was  strapped  a  folded  flag  "  the  colors 
of  the  United  States."  This  flag  had  formerly  belonged  to  the 
twelfth  regiment  of  Maine  volunteers  of  which  General  Geo.  F. 
Shepley,  his  chief,  had  been  the  colonel.  It  had  seen  active  ser- 
vice in  New  Orleans,  when  General  Shepley  was  the  military 
governor  of  that  city,  and,  sometime  before  the  movement  on 
Richmond,  the  general,  in  his  fondness  for  the  flag  made  a 
wager  that  some  day  or  other,  it  should  wave  over  the  Capitol  of 
the  confederacy.  Lieutenant  de  Peyster  carried  this  storm  flag 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  425 

thus  secured,  not  far  behind  the  advance  guard  of  the  army 
when  the  city  was  occupied  by  the  federal  troops. 

General  Shepley  had  entrusted  it  to  him  on  his  promise  to 
take  care  of  it,  and  "  to  raise  it  on  the  flag  staff  of  the  Capi- 
tol." The  following  letter  to  his  mother  shows  us  how  he  re- 
deemed that  promise. 

"  Head  Quarters,  Army  of  the  James, 

"  Richmond,  April  3d,  1865. 

"My  Dearest  Mother :  This  morning,  about  four  o'clock,  I 
was  got  up,  just  one  hour  after  I  retired,  with  the  information 
that  at  six  we  were  going  to  Richmond.  At  six  we  started. 
The  rebs.  had  gone  at  three,  along  a  road  strewn  with  all  the 
munitions  of  war.  Richmond  was  reached,  but  the  barbarous 
south  had  consigned  it  to  flames.  The  roar  of  the  bursting 
shells  was  terrific. 

"  Arriving  at  the  Capitol  I  sprang  from  my  horse,  first  unbuck- 
ling the  stars  and  stripes,  a  large  flag  I  bad  on  the  front  of  my  saddle. 
With  Captain  Langdon,  chief  of  artillery,  I  rushed  up  to  the 
roof.  Together  we  hoisted  the  first  large  flag  over  Richmond 
and  on  the  peak  of  the  roof  drank  to  its  success.  *  *  * 

ct  In  the  Capitol,  I  found  four  flags,  three  rebel,  one  ours,  I 
presented  them  all,  as  the  conqueror,  to  General  Weitzel.  I 
have  fulfilled  my  bet  and  put  the  first  large  flag  over  Richmond. 
I  found  two  small  guidons,  took  them  down,  and  returned  them 
to  the  fourth  Massachusetts  cavalry  where  they  belonged.  I 
write  from  Jeff.  Davis's  private  room.  * 

"  I  remain  ever  your  affectionate  son, 

"JOHNSTON." 


Two  small  guidons,  belonging  to  the  fourth  regiment  of 
Massachusetts  cavalry,  were  found  on  the  roof  of  the  Capitol, 
by  Lieut,  de  Peyster  and  Capt.  Langdon,  which  had  been 
placed  there  by  Major  Atherton  Hough  Stevens  and  Major  E. 
E.  Graves,  members  of  the  military  staff  of  Gen.  Weitzel,  who 
had  accompanied  the  party  of  cavalry  which  was  sent  forward 
in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive  enemy.  By  an  unauthorized  detour 
they  raised  the  guidons  of  their  party  on  the  roof  of  the  aban- 
54 


426  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

doned  Capitol.  The  hoisting  of  these  guidons,  failed  to 
secure  the  grateful  service,  as  it  was  styled  in  Mexico  by  Gene- 
ral Scott,  of  a  formal  possession  of  the  Capitol  at  Richmond, 
and  as  was  reserved  to  General  Quitman,  in  the  former  case, 
the  honor  of  formal  occupation,  by  "  hoisting  the  colors  of  the 
United  States  on  the  national  palace,"1  so,  to  Lieutenant  de  Peys- 
ter  and  Captain  Langdon,  rightfully  belongs  the  honor  of  hoisting 
the  colors  of  the  United  States  over  the  Capitol  of  the  confederate 
states,  and  the  formal  occupation  of  that  edifice. 

Two  days  after  the  event  (April  5),  General  Weitzel  wrote 
to  the  father  of'  de  Peyster :  "  Your  son  Lieut.  J.  de  Peyster 
and  Captain  Langdon,  my  chief  of  artillery,  raised  the  first  real 
American  flag  over  the  Capitol  in  Richmond.  It  was  a  flag 
formerly  belonging  to  the  I2th  Maine  volunteers.  Two 
cavalry  guidons  had,  however,  been  placed  over  the  building 
previously  by  two  of  my  staff  officers  ;  these  were  replaced  by 
the  flag  that  de  Peyster  and  Langdon  raised. 

"  Yours  truly, 

"  G.  WEITZEL,  Maj.  Gen." 


On  the  twenty-second  of  April,  General  Shepley  wrote  the 
father  :  *  *  "  Your  son  Lt.  de  Peyster  raised  the  first  flag  in  Rich- 
mond, replacing  two  small  cavalry  guidons  on  the  Capitol.  The 
flag  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Maj.  Gen.  Weitzel  ;  I  enclose  a 
small  piece  of  the  flag.  The  history  of  the  affair  is  this.  I 
brought  with  me  from  Norfolk,  an  old  storm  flag,  which  I  had 
used  in  New  Orleans  remarking  sportively  that  it  would  do  to 
float  over  the  Capitol  in  Richmond,  where  I  hoped  to  see  it. 
De  Peyster,  who  heard  the  remark,  said  *  General  will  you  let 
me  raise  it  for  you  ? '  I  said  '  Yes,  if  you  will  bring  it  with 
you,  and  take  care  of  it,  you  shall  raise  it  in  Richmond.'  As 
we  left  our  lines  to  advance  towards  Richmond,  Lt.  de  Peyster 
said,  4  General  do  you  remember  your  promise  about  the  flag  ?' 
I  said  c  yes,  go  to  my  tent  and  get  the  flag,  and  carry  it  on  your 
saddle;  and  I  will  send  you  to  raise  it.'  The  result  you  know," 


1  The  ensign  raised  by  Gen.  Quitman  is,  by  resolution  of  the  United  States  senate, 
preserved  in  the  war  department. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  427 

On  the  first  of  May,  1865,  the  governor  of  the  state  of  New 
York,  honored  Lieut.  dePeyster  with  a  brevet  lieutenant  colo- 
nel's commission,  for  gallant  and  meritorous  conduct,  and  for 
hoisting  the  first  American  flag  over  Richmond,  Virginia, 
after  its  capture  by  the  union  forces,  April  3d,  1865,  "and  as  a 
testimonial  of  the  zeal,  fidelity  and  courage  with  which  he  had 
maintained  the  honor  of  the  state  of  New  York  in  her  efforts 
to  enforce  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  the  supremacy  of  the 
constitution,  and  a  republican  form  of  government." 

On  Christmas  day,  1865,  the  mayor,  aldermen,  and  com- 
monalty of  the  city  of  New  York,  by  a  formal  vote,  tendered 
to  hinr  the  thanks  of  the  city  of  New  York,  for  giving  to 
New  York,  this  historic  honor.  The  United  States  senate  sub- 
sequently confirmed  his  nomination  as  a  brevet  lieutenant  colo- 
nel of  United  States  volunteers,  for  the  same  service. 

The  surrender  of  Lee's  army  followed  close  upon  the  occupa- 
tion of  the  rebel  capital.  On  the  gth  of  April  Colonel  A.  C. 
Whittier,  comanding  2Oth  regiment  of  Massachusetts  volunteers, 
and  assistant  adjutant  general  on  the  staff  of  Major  General  Hum- 
phries, was  sent  about  noon,  by  Major  General  Meade,  under  a  flag 
of  truce,  with  a  note  to  General  Lee.  He  soon  came  in  sight  of  the 
enemy  and  though  he  carried  a  large  white  flag  the  rebel  pickets 
fired  upon  him  en  passant.  Colonel  Whittier  claims  that  this  was 
the  last  hostile  shot  fired  by  the  army  of  northern  Virginia.  He 
dismounted,  and  was  met  by  Lieut.  Lamar  of  Georgia,  who,  to 
his  indignant  protest  at  having  been  fired  upon,  replied :  "  /  have 
no  instructions  not  to  fire  upon  flags  of  truce."  I 

The  same  day  General  Grant  received  a  note  from  General  Lee 
requesting  an  interview  which  he  granted.  This  memorable 
interview  took  place  at  a  little  after  2  P.  M.,  April  gth,  1865,  in  the 
town  of  Appomatox  Court  House.  The  town  boasts  of  five  build- 
ings besides  the  Court  House,  all  arranged  on  one  long  street,  one 
end  of  which  is  boarded  up  to  keep  out  the  cattle.  The  best 
house  in  the  street,  belonging  to  William  or  Wilmore  Me  Clean, 
was  loaned  for  the  occasion  by  its  owner.  It  was  an  old  fashioned, 
square,  brick  dwelling  with  a  verandah  along  its  front,  and  a  flight 
of  steps  leading  up  to  its  entrance.  The  front  yard  was  smiling 
with  roses,  violets  and  daffodils. 


Colonel  Whittier's  letter  published  in  La  Royale. 


428  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

While  the  conditions  of  the  surrender  were  being  discussed  by 
the  two  generals  the  impatience  of  the  troops  grew  to  a  fever 
heat.  They  deemed  the  delay  was  another  confederate  strate- 
gem  to  throw  them  off  their  guard,  and  that  under  the  color  of 
treating,  Lee  intended  to  play  another  Antietam  trick.  "  Let  us 
finish  up  the  matter,  they  cried,  before  night  comes  on  again. 
If  they  do  not  intend  to  surrender  let  us  go  in  at  once." 

Our  troops  were  commencing  to  advance  when  they  were 
halted  by  authority  of  General  Grant.  All  at  once  a  tempest 
of  hurrahs  shivered  the  air  along  the  front,  and  the  cry  went 
forth  Lee  has  surrendered.  Without  having  actually  distin- 
guished the  words  the  whole  union  army,  present,  comprehended 
their  import.  The  wildest  acclamations  rolled  like  peals  of 
thunder  over  the  field,  through  the  woods,  and  along  the  road, 
and  were  caught  up,  echoed  and  reechoed  and  prolonged  among 
the  trains  following  the  army.  Hats  and  caps  filled  the  air. 
The  flags  waved  and  saluted,  unfurling  their  tattered  fragments 
to  the  caresses  of  the  breeze,  glorious  attestations  and  relics  of 
nearly  four  years  of  battle,  and  of  over  a  hundred  first  class 
stricken  fields.  All  the  bands  at  the  same  time  poured  forth 
to  heaven,  (which  answered  with  sympathetic  smiles  of  un- 
clouded sunshine),  their  accompaniments  of  rejoicing,  either  in 
the  lively  notes  of  Yankee  Doodle  or  the  majestic  strains  of 
Hail  Columbia.  The  very  horses  seemed  to  enter  into  the 
spirit  of  the  occasion  and  pranced  proudly.  Hats,  haversacks 
and  canteens  were  raised  on  muskets,  or  thrown  along  the  route 
of  General  Meade  and  his  staff.  Trees  and  fences  were  climbed 
along  his  route  and  in  the  most  perilous  positions  were  soldiers  ; 
while  on  horseback  officers  were  seen  embracing  each  other  in  a 
delirium  of  joy.  These  demonstrations  did  not  decrease  in  in- 
tensity until  the  general  had  passed  through  the  whole  line,  and 
gone  to  his  camp,  when  they  became  less  concentrated,  but 
continued  to  pervade  the  whole  army,  and  were  only  lost  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night.1 

Another  officer  2  says,  "  About  4  o'clock  Gen.  Meade  and 
staff  came  in  from  the  front.  His  chief  of  staff,  Gen.  Webb, 


1  Col.  Wm.  H.  Paine's  Diary. 

2Lt.  Col.  Schoonover,  nth  New  Jersey  Vol.,  in  Gen.  de  Peyster's  La  Roy  ah. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  429 

preceded  him  and  announced  to  the  troops  that  lined  the  road 
on  either  side  that  Gen.  Lee  and  his  army  had  surrendered. 

"The  very  ground  seemed  to  shake  with  the  cheers  and  yells 
of  triumph  that  burst  forth  from  that  memorable  field.  A 
thousand  hats  went  up  at  once.  The  men  seemed  wild  with 
joy.  Gen.  Meade  and  staff  rode  through  the  dense  mass,  and 
imagination  would  now  tell  me,  that  he  was  obscured  from  sight 
with  the  shouts  of  a  thousand  mouths,  and  the  waving  and 
hurling  of  as  many  hats." 

"  Officers  and  men  grasped  each  others  hands  in  wild  delight. 
The  old  war  worn  and  battle  stained  colors  seemed  to  wave  ex- 
pressions of  joy.  Our  men  gathered  around  General  Me  Allister 
who  spoke  to  them  amid  continuous  cheers.  Americans  never 
saw  such  a  scene  before,  and  I  never  expect  to  witness  such 
another.  That  day  the  fate  of  the  rebellion  was  sealed,  and  the 
soldiers  knew  and  felt  that  the  shot  and  shell  from  that  army 
would  never  again  sweep  a  comrade  from  their  side.  All  who 
were  there  were  proud  of  it,  and  rejoiced  that  they  had  been  par- 
ticipators in  the  grand  closing  scene." 

The  final  arrangements  for  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army  were 
completed  on  the  nth.  The  terms  prescribed  by  Grant  were 
most  extraordinary,  under  the  circumstances  for  their  leniency  and 
magnanimity.  They  simply  required  Lee  and  his  men  to  give 
their  paroles  of  honor  that  they  would  not  take  up  arms  against 
their  government,  until  regularly  exchanged  ;  gave  to  the  officers 
their  side  arms,  baggage,  and  private  horses,  and  pledged  the  faith 
of  the  government  that  they  should  not  be  punished  for  their  trea- 
son and  rebellion,  so  long  as  they  should  respect  that  parole  and 
be  obedient  to  law.  On  the  I2th  of  April  the  men  and  officers 
were  at  liberty  to  proceed  to  their  homes  or  wherever  they  chose. 
The  number  paroled  was  about  27,805. z 

It  was  a  happy  coincidence  that  the  surrender  took  place  on 
Palm  Sunday  the  commencement  of  holy  week,  and  anniversary 
of  the  day  when  the  Prince  of  Peace  made  his  triumphal  entry 
into  Jerusalem,  the  possession  or  inheritance  of  peace  (for  such  is 
the  meaning  of  the  name)  the  multitudes  strewing  his  pathway  with 
palm  branches.  How  appropriate  was  the  day  for  this  surrender 

1  Report  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  Draper's  Civil  War ;  Harper's  History  of  the  Rebel- 
lion. The  number  has  been  variously  estimated  by  other  authorities. 


430  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

when  a  chosen  people  in  army  entered  through  the  gates  of  vic- 
tory into  the  possession  of  peace,  which  they  had  purchased 
with  half  a  million  lives  and  an  expenditure  of  money  almost  appall- 
ing in  its  aggregate  of  public  outlay  and  private  munificence.1 

Before  our  next  national  anniversary  (July  4)  the  soldiers  of  the 
grand  army  of  the  republic,  whose  patriotism,  valor  and  fortitude 
had  saved  its  life,  were  making  their  way  homeward,  where  they 
were  received  everywhere  with  the  warmest  demonstrations  of 
gratitude  and  affection.  During  two  memorable  days  in  May 
the  armies  that  had  confronted  Johnston  and  Lee,  passed  in 
grand  review  before  the  president  and  his  cabinet  and  other  high 
officials  at  Washington  and  were  marched  off  to  their  homes  and 
disbanded. 

On  the  ad  of  June  the  general-in-chief  issued  the  following 
address : 

"  Soldiers  of  the  Armies  of  the  United  States  : 

"  By  your  patriotic  devotion  to  your  country  in  the  hour  of 
danger  and  alarm,  your  magnificent  fighting,  bravery,  and  en- 
durance, you  have  maintained  the  supremacy  of  the  union  and 
the  constitution,  overthrown  all  armed  opposition  to  the  enforce 
ment  of  the  laws,  and  of  the  proclamation  forever  abolishing 
slavery,  the  cause  and  pretext  of  the  rebellion,  and  opened  the 
way  to  the  rightful  authorities  to  restore  order,  and  inaugurate 
peace  on  a  permanent  and  enduring  basis  on  every  foot  of  Ame- 
rican soil.  Your  marches,  seiges,  and  battles,  in  distance,  du- 
ration, resolution  and  brilliancy  of  results,  dims  the  lustre  of  the 
world's  past  military  achievements,  and  will  be  the  patriot's  pre- 
cedent in  defense  of  liberty  and  right  in  all  time  to  come.  In 
obedience  to  your  country's  call,  you  left  your  homes  and  fami- 
lies, and  volunteered  in  her  defence.  Victory  has  crowned  your 
valor,  and  secured  the  purpose  of  your  patriotic  hearts ;  and 
with  the  gratitude  of  your  countrymen,  and  the  highest  honors 
a  great  and  free  nation  can  accord,  you  will  soon  be  permitted 
to  return  to  your  homes  and  families,  conscious  of  having  dis- 
charged the  highest  duties  of  American  citizens.  To  achieve 
these  glorious  triumphs,  and  secure  to  yourselves,  your  fellow- 
countrymen,  and  posterity  the  blessings  of  free  institutions, 


1  General  de  Peyster's  La  Royale. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  431 

tens  of  thousands  of  your  gallant  comrades  have  fallen,  and 
sealed  the  priceless  legacy  with  their  blood.  The  graves  of 
these  a  grateful  nation  bedews  with  tears,  honors  their  memo- 
ries, and  will  ever  cherish  and  support  their  stricken  families." 
By  the  middle  of  the  autumn  nearly  786,000  officers  and 
men  were  mustered  out  of  the  service,  and  had  quietly  resumed 
the  peaceful  occupations  they  had  laid  down  at  the  call  of  the 
country.  Never  before,  in  the  world's  history,  had  such  vast 
armies  been  dissolved  so  rapidly,  without  disorders  of  any  kind, 
furnishing  convincing  proof,  if  any  were  needed,  of  the  powers 
of  the  Great  Republic  for  self  government. 

"  Thank  God !  the  bloody  days  are  past  ; 
Our  patient  hopes  are  crowned  at  last  ; 
And  sounds  of  bugle,  drum  and  fife, 
But  lead  our  heroes  home  from  strife  ! 

"  Thank  God  !  there  beams  o'er  land  and  sea, 
Our  blazing  star  of  victory  ; 
And  everywhere,  from  main  to  main, 
The  old  flag  flies  and  rules  again  !"  1 


1  From  a  hymn  written  by  Geo.  H.  Baker  of  Philadelphia,  and  sung  by  the  Loyaj 
League  of  Philadelphia,  to  the  tune  of  Old  Hundred,  July  4,  1865. 


432  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


THE  RETURN  OF  THE  VOLUNTEER  REGIMENTS  TO 
THEIR   STATES. 

On  the  conclusion  of  our  great  civil  strife,  after  the  volunteers 
from  the  several  states  of  the  union  had  returned  to  their  homes, 
the  banners  they  had  so  valiantly  and  loyally  borne  throughout 
the  war,  and  which  had  been  brought  back  by  them  in  safety  and 
honor,  were  by  an  order  of  the  war  department,  issued  May  15, 
1865,  restored  to  the  custody  of  the  states  under  whose  author- 
ity the  regiments,  batteries,  etc.,  had  been  mustered  into  the 
service  of  the  union. 

These  banners  were  received  by  the  governors  with  appropri- 
ate ceremony,  and  are  carefully  preserved,  as  evidences  of  loyalty 
and  patriotism.  The  interesting  ceremonies  attendant  upon  the 
formal  reception  of  the  battle-scarred  and  weather  beaten  flags  of 
the  Massachusetts  regiments  by  the  state  and  then  deposited  in 
Doric  hall  of  the  State  House  have  been  graphically  described  by 
General  William  Schouler.  x  He  says  : 

"  The  Massachusetts  regiments  and  batteries  had  all  come 
home ;  some  of  their  battle  flags  had  been  returned  to  the  state 
authorities,  and  were  tastefully  displayed  on  the  columns  of  the 
Doric  hall  in  the  State  House,  and  some  others  were  held  by  the 
United  States  mustering  officer,  who  had  orders  to  forward  them 
to  Washington  ;  but  subsequently  authority  was  given  to  place 
them  in  the  hands  of  the  governor  to  be  preserved  in  the  ar- 
chives of  the  commonwealth.  It  was  then  determined  by  Gover- 
nor Andrew  to  have  these  colors  received  with  all  the  honors 
which  the  cause  they  symbolized,  and  the  battle  fields  over 
which  they  had  waved,  made  proper  ;  and  he  selected  the 
twenty-second  day  of  December,  the  anniversary  of  the  landing 
of  the  pilgrims  at  Plymouth  in  1620,  as  the  day  on  which  the 
ceremony  should  take  place.  Major  General  Couch  was  se- 
lected to  command,  and  Brevet  Major  General  Hinks  was 
appointed  chief  of  his  staff. 


History  of  Massachusetts  in  the  Civil  War. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  433 

The  following  was  the  order  issued  : 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

Head  Quarters,  Boston,  December  13,  1865. 
General  Order,  No.  18. 

By  general  order  No.  94  of  the  war  department,  issued  May 
15,  1865,  volunteer  regiments  and  batteries,  on  their  return  to 
their  respective  states,  when  mustered  out  and  discharged,  were 
to  deposit  their  colors  with  the  chief  United  States  mustering 
officers,  to  be  by  them  transferred  to  the  governors  of  the 
states. 

Since  that  time  the  following  Massachusetts  regiments  and 
batteries,  having  faithfully  served  their  country  to  the  end  of 
the  rebellion,  returned  home  and  been  discharged,  their  colors 
have  been  received  by  Brevet  Colonel  F.  N.  Clarke,  U.  S.  A., 
chief  mustering  officer,  viz.,  2d,  nth,  jyth,  iQth,  2ist,  23d,  25th, 
26th,  27th,  28th,  3ist,  33d,  34th,  35th,  36th,  37th,  38th,  39th, 
4Oth,  54th,  55th,  56th,  57th,  58th,  59th,  6ist  regiments  of  in- 
fantry, ist  battalion  frontier  cavalry,  3d,  4th,  5th  regiments  of 
cavalry,  4th,  5th,  6th,  7th,  nth,  I5th,  i6th  batteries  light  ar- 
tillery, ist,  2d,  3d,  4th  regiments  of  heavy  artillery. 

On  Friday,  22d  instant  (Forefather's  Day),  the  colors  will 
be  escorted  from  Colonel  Clarke's  head  quarters,  No.  2  Bui- 
finch  street,  to  the  State  House,  where  they  will  be  formally 
received  by  his  excellency  the  governor,  and  placed  in  the  pub- 
lic archives  of  the  commonwealth,  to  be  sacredly  preserved 
forever  as  grand  emblems  of  the  heroic  services  and  patriotic 
devotion  to  liberty  and  union  of  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand 
of  her  dead  and  living  sons. 

The  escort  will  be  performed  by  the  ist  company  of  Cadets, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Holmes  commanding,  who  will  report  to 
Brevet  Colonel  Clarke,  at  his  head  quarters,  at  n  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  when  the  line  of  march  will  be  taken  up. 

All  general,  regimental,  and  company  officers,  and  past  general, 
regimental,  and  company  officers  of  Massachusetts,  and  especi- 
ally all  officers  and  past  officers,  and  all  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates  of  the  several  organizations  named  above, 
are  invited  to  take  part  in  the  ceremony,  and  join  in  the  proces- 
sion. The  officers  will,  as  far  as  practicable,  detail  a  color 
55 


434  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

guard  for  the  colors  of  their  respective  late  commands.  The 
original  date  of  muster-in  of  each  command  will  govern  its  place 
in  the  procession.  Officers  and  enlisted  men,  as  far  as  practi- 
cable, will  appear  in  uniform. 

For  further  orders  and  information,  apply  to  the  adjutant-ge- 
neral of  the  commonwealth. 

By  order  of  his  excellency  John  A.  Andrew,  governor  and 
commander-in-chief.  WILLIAM  SCHOULER, 

Adjutant  General. 

"  The  day  was  a  common,  New  England,  wintry  day,  and  the 
ground  was  covered  with  snow  to  the  depth  of  about  six  inches. 
Early  in  the  morning  of  the  22d,  the  veteran  officers  and  men 
of  our  gallant  commanders  assembled  in  Boston,  and  formed  in 
military  order.  All  were  represented ;  and  when  placed  in 
column  of  march  with  their  old  uniforms,  each  command  carry- 
ing its  tattered  flags,  some  of  which  had  waved  over  fifty  battle 
fields,  in  the  valleys  of  Virginia,  and  on  the  mountains  of  Ten- 
nessee ;  had  followed  the  fortunes  of  Butler  and  Banks  in 
Louisiana,  Mississippi,  and  Texas  ;  and  had  been  unfurled 
where  Burnside  and  Sherman  had  led  in  the  Carolinas  and  in 
Georgia,  a  sight  was  presented  which  awakened  the  most  patri- 
otic and  sublime  thoughts  in  the  heart  of  every  loyal  person. 

As  the  procession  moved  through  the  different  streets,  busi- 
ness was  suspended,  the  sidewalks  were  crowded  with  spectators, 
banners  were  displayed  from  almost  every  house,  and  every- 
where cheers  went  up  of  welcome  and  of  gratitude  ;  a  salute 
was  fired  by  a  detachment  of  light  artillery,  bands  of  music 
played  inspiring  airs.  The  whole  scene  was  one  which  will 
never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  witnessed  it. 

u  The  procession  reached  the  State  House  about  one  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.  The  color  bearers  of  each  command  were  sta- 
tioned upon  the  steps  leading  to  the  Capitol ;  and  when  all  were 
in  position,  holding  aloft  the  war-worn  banners,  they  presented 
a  spectacle  at  once  imposing  and  picturesque.  The  arrange- 
ments being  completed  ;  Rev.  Samuel  K.  Lothrop,  D.D.,  made 
a  most  impressive  and  fervent  prayer,  at  the  conclusion  of  which 
General  Couch  stepped  forward,  and  thus  addressed  Governor 
Andrew. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  435 

4  May  it  please  your  Excellency  :  We  have  come  here  to-day 
as  the  representatives  of  the  army  of  volunteers  furnished  by 
Massachusetts  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion,  bringing  these 
colors  in  order  to  return  them  to  the  state  which  intrusted  them 
to  our  keeping.  You  must,  however,  pardon  us  if  we  give 
them  up  with  profound  regret  ;  for  these  tattered  shreds  forci- 
bly remind  us  of  long  and  fatiguing  marches,  cold  bivouacs,  and 
many  hard  fought  battles.  The  rents  in  their  folds,  the  battle 
stains  on  their  escutcheons,  the  blood  of  our  comrades  which  has 
sanctified  the  soil  of  a  hundred  fields,  attest  the  sacrifices  that 
have  been  made,  and  the  courage  and  constancy  shown,  that  the 
nation  might  live.  It  is,  sir,  a  peculiar  satisfaction  and  pleasure 
to  us,  that  you,  who  have  been  an  honor  to  the  state  and  nation, 
from  your  marked  patriotism  and  fidelity  throughout  the  war, 
and  have  been  identified  with  every  organization  before  you,  are 
now  here  to  receive  back,  as  the  state  custodian  of  her  precious 
relics,  these  emblems  of  the  devotion  of  her  sons.  May  it 
please  your  excellency,  the  colors  of  the  Massachusetts  volun- 
teers are  returned  to  the  state.' 

"  The  governor  replied  in  the  following  beautiful  and  eloquent 
address  : 

'  General:  This  pageant,  so  full  of  pathos  and  of  glory,  forms 
the  concluding  scene  in  the  long  series  of  visible  actions  and 
events  in  which  Massachusetts,  has  borne  a  part  for  the  over- 
throw of  the  rebellion  and  the  vindication  of  the  union.  - 

4  These  banners  are  returned  to  the  government  of  the  common- 
wealth through  welcome. hands.  Borne  one  by  one  out  of  this 
Capitol  during  more  than  four  years  of  civil  war,  as  the  symbols 
of  the  nation  and  the  commonwealth  under  which  the  battalions 
of  Massachusetts  departed  to  the  fields,— they  come  back  again 
borne  hither  by  surviving  representatives  of  the  same  heroic 
regiments  and  companies  to  which  they  were  intrusted. 

"  At  the  hands,  General,  of  yourself,  the  ranking  .officer  of 
the  volunteers  of  the  commonwealth  (one  of  the  earliest  who 
accepted  a  regimental  command  under  the  appointment  of  the 
governor  of  Massachusetts),  and  of  this  grand  column  of -scarred 
and  heroic  veterans  who  guard  them  home,  they  are  returned 
with  honors  becoming  relics  so  venerable,  soldiers  so  brave,  and 
•citizens  so 'beloved.' 


436  ORIGIN  'AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

"  Proud  memories  of  many  fields  ;  sweet  memories  alike  of 
valor  and  friendship ;  sad  memories  of  fraternal  strife  ;  tender 
memories  of  our  fallen  brothers  and  sons,  who  with  dying  eyes 
looked  last  upon  their  flaming  folds  ;  grand  memories  of  heroic 
virtues,  sublime  by  grief;  exultant  memories  of  the  great  and 
final  victories  of  our  country,  our  union,  and  the  righteous  cause  ; 
thankful  memories  of  a  deliverance  wrought  out  for  human 
nature  itself,  unexampled  by  any  former  achievement  of  arms  ; 
immortal  memories  with  immortal  honors  blended, —  twine 
around  these  splintered  stayes,  weave  themselves  along  the  warp 
and  woof  of  these  familiar  flags,  war-worn,  begrimed,  and  bap- 
tized with  blood. 

"  Let  the  c  brave  heart,  the  trusty  heart,  the  deep  unfathom- 
able., heart/  in  words  of  more  than  mortal  eloquence  uttered, 
though  unexpressed,  speak  the  emotions  of  grateful  veneration 
for  which  these  lips  of  mine  are  alike  too  feeble  and  unworthy. 

"General,  I  accept  these  relics  in  behalf  of  the  people  and 
the  commonwealth.  They  will  be  preserved  and  cherished, 
amid  all  vicissitudes  of  the  future,  as  mementos  of  brave  men 
and  noble  actions.' 

The  pageant  then  dissolved,  .and  the  colors  were  placed  in 
the  Doric  hall  of  the  Capitol,  where  they  will  remain  »to  testify 
to  future  generations  of  the  courage  and  endurance  manifested 
by  the  soldiers  of  Massachusetts  during  four  of  the  most  event- 
ful years  of  its  history. 

After  the  services,  the  governor  was  pleased  to  present  to  the 
adjutant-general  the  original  manuscript  of  his  address  on  which, 
was  the  following  indorsement,  in  his  own  handwriting :' 

"  Half  past  two  o'clock  P.  M.,  December  22,  1868.  This  is 
the  original  manuscript  used  by  me  in  reply  to  Major  General 
Couch,  by  whose  hand  the  flag  of  the  nineteenth  regiment  was 
delivered  to  me,  he  acting  as  the  commander  for  the  day  of  the 
volunteer  column.  I  present  it  as  an  autograph  to  Adjutant 
General  Schouler,  by  whose  happy  thought  Forefather's  day  was 
named  for  the  reception  of  the  battle  flags,  and  whose  industry 
and  care  helped  largely  to  give  a  brilliant  success  to  the  ceremo- 
nies of  the  day,  with  faithful  regards  of 

"  JOHN  A.  ANDREW." 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  437 

This  interesting  occasion  was  admirably  illustrated  in  a  short 
poem,  addressed  to  Governor  Andrew.  The  author,  Brigadier 
General  Horace  Binney  Sargent,  at  the  commencement  of  Gover- 
nor Andrew's  administration,  was  chief  of  his  personal  staff,  and 
subsequently  went  to  the  war  as  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  first 
regiment  Massachusetts  cavalry,  was  promoted  colonel,  and 
brevetted  brigadier  general  of  volunteers  for  brave  and  merito- 
rious services  in  the  field. 

In  New.  Hampshire*1*  fast  as  the  several  regiments  arrived  home 
they  were  received  by  General  Natt.  Head  the  adjutant  gene- 
ral, and  their  flags  when  turned  over  to  the  state  were  received  with 
appropriate  ceremonies,  and  placed  on  exhibition  in  the  adjutant 
general's  office,  where  they  remained  until  1866,  when  they  were 
suspended  around  the  pillars  of  the  Doric  hall  of  the  State 
House  at  Concord.  In  June,  1867,  the  adjutant  general 
was  instructed  to  place  them  in  proper  and  suitable  cases  for 
their  better  preservation,  and  not  allow  them  to  be  removed  ex- 
cept to  preserve  them  from  destruction. 

These  flags,  numbering  about  one  hundred,  and  including  guid- 
ons were  then  placed  in  glass  cases  on  three  sides  of  Doric  hall, 
adding  much  to  its  appearance  and  telling  an  eloquently  sad 
story. 

They  are  visited  annually  by  the  members  of  the  Veteran 
Union  of  New  Hampshire,  and  on  one  occasion,  Jan.  8,  1867, 
his  excellency  Governor  Harriman  on  being  presented  to  the 
Union  in  Doric  hall  said : 

"  Gentlemen  :  I  am  happy  to  be  thus  presented  to  you,  but  I 
shall  make  no  speech.  Silence  best  becomes  us  in  this  pre- 
sence. Those  (pointing  to  the  old  flags),  are  the  eloquent 
though  speechless  orators.  Braver  men  never  smiled  at  danger 
than  those  who  fought  under  those  banners,  and  whenever 
Death  spread  his  banquet  New  Hampshire  furnished  many 
guests.  Your  annual  pilgrimage  to  these  halls"  is  creditable  to 
the  silent  promptings  of  your  nature,  .Goo  BLESS  FOREVER! 
the  living  and  the  dead,  who  under  these  flags  marched  to  glory 
or  the  grave."1 

Pennsylvania  closed  her  military  record  in  the  rebellion  by 
receiving  from  the  hands  of  her  valiant  sons  the  flags  they  had 

1  Letter  of  John  M.  Haines,  adjutant  general  N.  H.  to  G.  H.  P.,  May  2,  1872. 


438  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

carried  for  thousands  of  miles,  and  which  had  always  been  borne 
by  them  side  by  side  with  the  foremost  in  the  strife  of  battle. 

The  day  set  apart  to  receive  these  glorious  memorials  of  her 
devotion  to  the  union,  and  which  it  was  determined  should  be 
accompanied  with  all  the  solemnity  such  a  record  deserved, 
was  the  4th  of  July,  1866.  On  that  day  and  occasion  there  was 
a  great  procession  of  the  military  and  civic  bodies  to  Independ- 
ence hall  where  the  reception  was  to  take  place.  Addresses 
were  delivered  by  Gov.  Curtin,  Gen.  Meade,  Gen..  Russell 
and  others.  The  scene  in  Independence  square  was  one  long 
to  be  remembered.  The  old  hall  was  festooned,  and  adorned  with 
the  stars  and  stripes,  and  the  immense  amphitheatre  in  front  of  it 
was  crowded  with  ladies,  and  officers  of  the  army  and  navy  in  gay 
and  brilliant  dresses  mingled  with  gentlemen  in  the  more  sober 
colored  garments  of  citizens.  The  remains  of  over  one  hun- 
dred flags,  with  inscriptions  telling  of  their  battles  and  victories 
were  grouped  together.  In  some  instances  nothing  remained 
of  the  standard  but  its  staff,  and  that  was  ornamented  with 
streamers  containing  the  names  of  the  battles  in  which  the  regi- 
ments had  participated.  The  severity  of  the  struggles  through 
which  these  flags  had  passed  is  best  told  in  the  simple  announce- 
ment on  one  of  them  viz.  :  "In  41  battles  and  61  skirmishes." 
Major  Gen.  Meade  made  the  presentation  which  was  replied  to 
by  Gov.  Curtin.1 

In  Rhode  Island^  there  were  no  public  ceremonies  attendant 
upon  the  return  of  the  battle  flagS  of  the  regiments  but  they 
were  informally  received  (or  the  few  strips  of  some  of  them 
that  remained),  by  the  adjutant  general  of  the  state,  and  de- 
posited by  him  in  the  State  House.  The  general  assembly  at 
its  May  session,  1868, 

"Resolved:  That  the  secretary  of  state  be  directed  to  pro- 
cure a  glass  case,  to  be  placed  in  the  State  House  in  Providence, 
in  which  shall  be  placed  the  several  flags  of  the  Rhode  Island 
volunteers,  used  in  the  late  war,  and  now  deposited  in  the  sec- 
retary's office. 

"Resolved:  That  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
be  appropriated  for  defraying  the  cost  of  said  case." 


'  !  Letter  John  A.  McAllister  to  G.  H.  P.,  who  also  furnished  me  with  a  chromo, 
showing  "The  Boys  in  Blue,"  returning  the  state  flags  to  the  governor  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Independence  square,  Philadelphia  July,  4,  1866. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  439 

The  tattered  battle  flags  of  the  Maine  regiments  have  been 
recently  set  up  in  the  rotunda  of  the  state  Capitol  at  Augusta, 
in  a  heavy,  black  walnut  case  eighteen  feet  high,  sixteen  and 
one-half  feet  wide,  ten  inches  deep  and  heavily  trimmed.  It 
has  a  front  of  the  best  German  plate  glass.1 

All  the  regiments  of  the  regular  army  had  two  flags,  one 
national  and  one  regimental,  as  prescribed  by  army  regulations. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  these  regiments  retained  their  flags  and 
they  are  still  kept  at  the  different  regimental  head  quarters.2 


1  Augusta,  Maine,  Newspaper. 

2  Letter  C.  D.  Brandt,  to  G.  H.  P.  July  zy,  1872. 


440  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


THE  DISPOSITION  OF  THE  TROPHY  FLAGS  OF  THE  WAR. 

The  flag  museum  of  the  war  department  occupies  two  small 
rooms,  on  the  first  floor  of  a  house  on  iyth  street,  Washington, 
opposite  the  department,  and  is  open  to  all  who  may  have  curios- 
ity to  examine  its  relics.  The  front  room  is  stored  with  the  union 
flags  found  in  the  rebel  war  department  at  Richmond  after  its 
surrender.  They  were  then  boxed  up,  and  sent  to  Washington 
for  future  preservation.  There  were  histories  attached  to  each 
of  these  flags,  but  when  the  boxes  were  opened,  the  flags  were 
carelessly  shaken  out,  and  the  histories  which  had  been  rolled  up 
in  them  were  so  scattered  about,  that  it  was  impossible  to  rear- 
range them  correctly.  These  flags  according  to  the  register 
number  two  hundred  and  thirty-six.  This  room  is  very  attrac- 
tive, the  windows  and  doors  are  shaded  by  flags  fastened  at  the 
top,  and  looped  back  at  the  sides,  in  the  manner  of  window  cur- 
tains. The  walls  are  covered  with  flags,  and  great  care  and  taste 
is  displayed  in  their  arrangement.  The  best  flags  are,  of  course, 
put  forward,  and  some  of  them  are  remarkably  well  pre- 
served. An  almost  new  flag  belonging  to  the  one  hundred  and 
twenty-sixth  New  York  volunteers,  is  the  handsomest  in  the 
collection.  There  are  three  Ohio  flags,  composed  of  elegant 
blue  silk,  with  the  gorgeous  eagle  most  elaborately  wrought.  It 
has  been  generally  conceded  that  Ohio  had  the  most  beautiful 
flags  in  the  service  and  these  do  much  towards  making  the  room 
look  gay  and  brilliant.  In  front  of  the  fire  place  is  a  faded  gui- 
don, belonging  to  the  gallant  sixty-ninth  New  York  volunteers, 
captured  in  the  bloody  field,  where  they  so  nobly  showed  their 
faith,  by  their  works  in  the  country's  service.  The  guidon  still 
retains  the  inscription  placed  upon  it  by  the  rebels  :  "captured  at 
Fredericksburg,  Va.,  from  the  ist  Irish  Brigade  of  Yanks." 

No.  42,  is  a  U.  S.  Flag  of  the  I7th  regiment  Michigan 
infantry,  captured  by  the  rebels  May  I2th,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania 
Court  House  Va.  Attached  to  it  is  a  paper  inscribed  :  "The 
regiment  fought  splendidly  and  suffered  dreadfully  ;  they  entered 
the  field  750,  strong,  and  that  evening  their  commanding  officer 
could  only  muster  sixty  men  of  the  entire  battalion. 

"E.  D.  KENNEDY,  late  Major." 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  44 \ 

No.  23 1,  is  a  United  States  flag  made  by  Mrs.  Hetty  McEwen, 
and  which  floated  from  her  house  during  the  time  the  city  of 
Nashville  was  in  possession  of  the  south,  and  was  found  still 
floating  there  when  Gen.  Buell's  union  army  occupied  the  city. 

I  am  informed  from  the  war  department  at  Washington  there 
is  no  record  of  any  flags  or  flag  having  been  captured  by  the  rebels 
from  the  regiments  of  the  regular  army,  and  that  it  is  believed 
none  were  captured  by  them.1 

It  is  noticeable  in  this  collection,  that  the  silk  flags  ornamented 
with  embroidery  are  in  the  best  state  of  preservation.  The  silk 
flags  with  painted  devices,  are  already  burnt  through  by  the 
paint  and  oil,  and  dropping  to  pieces,  and  the  woolen  flags  are 
moth  eaten. 

The  rear  room,  according  to  the  register,  contains^*?  hundred 
and  forty-three  rebel  flags,  most  of  which  are  rolled  upon  their 
staffs,  or  deposited  in  covered  pigeon  holes,  there  not  being 
space  to  display  to  view  more  than  a  tithe  of  the  number.  The 
whole  collection  is  very  much  moth  eaten,  and  bids  fair  to  be 
soon  destroyed  altogether,  unless  better  means  are  taken  for  its 
preservation. 

Of  the  five  hundred  and  forty-three  rebel  flags  here  collected, 
1 6  were  captured  from  Alabama  regiments,  4  from  Arkansas 
regiments,  6  from  Florida  regiments,  23^from  Georgia  regiments,  I 
from  a  Kentucky  regiment,  4  from  Louisiana  regiments,  10  from 
Mississippi  regiments,  6  from  Missouri  regiments,  26  from  North 
Carolina  regiments,  7  from  South  Carolina  regiments,  7  from 
Tennessee  regiments,  4  from  Texas  regiments,  and  50  from  Vir- 
ginia regiments.  The  history  of  the  379  flags  not  enumerated 
above,  is  unknown. 

Some  of  the  mottoes  on  these  flags  are  curious,  viz., 

1.  "  Citizen  soldiers  the  best  defenders  of  our  homes." 

2.  <c  We  choose  our  own  institutions,  we  collect  our  own 
revenues."     This  flag  is  the  ordinary  stars  and  bars,  it  is  com- 
posed of  coarse  bunting  and  its  union  contains  13  stars. 

3.  "  Duke  et  decorum^   est  pro  patria  mori"  and  on  the  other 
side  "  A  crown  for  the  brave." 

4.  "  Presented  by  the  ladies  of  Bath,  Va.  "  God  protect  the 
right." 

1  Letter  of  C.  D.  Brandt  in  charge  of  flag  room,  dated  July  2d,  1872. 

56 


442  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

5.  "  Our  country  and  our  rights."     "  Our  homes  our  rights, 
we  submit  to  your  keeping  brave   sons  of  Alabama."     These 
mottoes  are  on  a  white  silk  flag,  blazoned  with  the  arms  of  the 
state  of  Alabama. 

6.  "  Death  or  victory.     Zachry  rangers,"  on  the  other  side 
"  Presented    by   the   ladies  of   Henry."     This  flag,  is  a  stars 
and  bars,  with  the  arms  of  Georgia  in  the  centre  of  the  union, 
surrounded  by  the  stars  in  a  circle. 

A  Virginia  state  flag  of  blue  silk,  with  a  gold  fringe,  has  on 
one  side  the  state  coat  of  arms,  and  beneath,  the  inscription  in 
gilt  letters,  "  Presented  by  the  ladies  of  Norfolk,  to  the  N.  L. 
A.  Blues,  organized  February  22d,  1830."  On  the  reverse  a 
portrait  of  George  Washington,  with  1 1  stars  in  a  semicircle 
above,  and  the  inscription,  "our  cause  it  is  just,  our  rights, 
we'll  maintain."  (Plate  ix). 

A  South  Carolina  state  flag  of  white  bunting,  has  on  it  a  re- 
presentation of  a  palmetto  tree,  with  red  stars,  and  a  red  half 
moon.  (Plate  ix). 

A  flag,  captured  from  the  35th  North  Carolina  volunteers, 
made  of  bunting  has  a  broad  perpendicular  bar  of  red,  next  the 
staff,  with  two  horizontal  bars,  blue  and  white,  composing  the 
fly.  In  the  centre  of  the  red  bar  is  a  large  white  star,  and 
above  the  star  in  white  letters  the  inscription,  "  May  20, 
1775,"  beneath  it,  "  May  20,  1861."  (Plate  ix). 

All  will  remember  the  excitement  in  the  north,  when 
it  was  alleged  that,  on  several  occasions,  the  rebels  had  raised 
the  black  flag,1  an  omen  of  dire  consequences,  inasmuch  as  the 
bearers  show  no  quarter  to  the  enemy.  That  celebrated  flag 
is  here,  tacked  to  the  wall,  in  one  corner  of  the  room.  It  is 
made  of  black  cambric  muslin,  and  is  about  four  feet  long,  by 
three  feet  wide.  Sherman  solved  the  mystery  of  this  terrible 
flag,  which  amounts  to  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  signal  flag. 
The  white  star  against  the  black  background,  made  it  very 
conspicuous  and  valuable  to  the  signal  corps,  and  for  that  rea- 
son only,  was  the  black  flag  adopted.  The  star  has  the  word 
Winchester  painted  on  it,  as  a  token  of  the  services  of  the 


1  A  black  flag  was  displayed  over  the  depot  of  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  rail  road 
and  the  editor  of  the  Lynchburg  Republican  was  for  hoisting  it  throughout  the  south. 
He  would  ask  no  quarter,  he  said,  at  the  hand  of  vandal,  Yankee  invaders,  and  his 
motto  would  be  entire  extermination  of  them.  Let  it  tell  of  death  to  each  and  all. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  443 

rebel  signal  corps  at  Winchester.  This  flag  was  captured 
within  the  rebel  lines  near  South  Mountain,  Md.,  August  I, 
1864,  by  a  detective. 

The  Fort  Fisher  flag,  in  the  collection,  is  nearly  square.  It 
is  like  the  ordinary  battle  flag,  and  is  made  of  red  bunting  bound 
with  white,  with  a  blue  cross  reaching  to  the  four  corners.  In 
the  cross  are  the  thirteen  stars.  (Plate  ix). 

In  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  room,  hangs  a  palmetto  flag, 
which  was  the  first  flag  that  waved  over  Charleston  in  1861, 
and  in  fact  was  the  first  secession  flag  raised  in  the  confederacy. 
It  is  a  perfect  caricature.  The  material  is  a  dull  white  bunting, 
with  a  very  lame  representation  of  a  palmetto  tree  sewed  in  the 
centre  of  the  flag.  It  has  eight  branches,  but  no  leaves,  and  looks 
more  like  a  huge  spider  than  anything  under  the  sun.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  eleven  red  stars,  and  a  red  moon  just  rising.  It 
was  used  at  Forts  Sumter  and  Moultrie,  and  in  the  fortifications 
around  Charleston  at  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion. 

A  confederate  battle  flag  (No.  43),  was  captured  at  Sharps- 
bbrgh,  by  Private  Isaac  Thompson,  Co.  C,  20th  regiment, 
New  York  volunteers,  who  shot  the  rebel  color  bearer,  and 
ran  forward  and  brought  ofF  the  colors. 

Another  confederate  battle  flag  (No.  72),  was  captured  at  New 
Market,  January  30,  1863,  by  Private  William  Gallagher,  who 
killed  the  original  color  bearer  and  took  prisoner  the  second, 
who  attempted  to  raise  it. 

Still  another  battle  flag  (No.  14),  was  captured  in  a  hand  to 
hand  fight  in  the  trenches,  by  Sergeant  Otis  C.  Roberts,  of  the 
6th  regiment  of  Maine  volunteers,  Nov.  7,  1863.  It  belonged 
to  the  8th  Louisiana  Regiment.  This  much  we  learn  from  the 
museum  register. 

No  attempt  was  made  by  the  navy  department  to  preserve 
or  display  the  flags  taken  by  our  navy.  An  officer,  now  a 
rear  admiral,  inquiring  for  a  particular  flag  in  which  he  was  in- 
terested, was  told  by  the  assistant  secretary  that  he  might  visit 
the  attic  of  the  department  where  they  were  stored  and  help  him- 
self, as  there  was  no  desire  to  preserve  these  emblems  of  the 
victories  of  our  civil  strife. 

In  the  gunnery  room  of  the  U.  S.  Naval  Academy  however, 
with  the  trophies  of  our  other  wars,  they  have  the  flag  of  the 


444  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

rebel  iron  clad  ram  Atlanta,  of  4guns,  captured  June  17,  1863,  in 
Warsaw  sound,  Georgia,  by  the  monitor  We  eh  aw  ken,  Captain 
John  Rodgers. 

The  stars  and  bars  flag  hoisted  over  camp  Lovell,  at  Quarantine 
below  New  Orleans,  April  24,  1862,  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
Rear  Admiral  Theodorus  Bailey  of  Washington.  It  was  sur- 
rendered to  him  ;  it  is  made  of  a  very  fine  woolen  material,  and 
has  eleven  stars  in  the  union,  arranged  in  a  circle  ;  there  is  a 
hole  through  it,  which  was  torn  by  an  eleven  inch  shot  from 
the  gun  boat  Cayuga.  Admiral  Bailey  has  also  the  beautiful 
silk  flag  (stars  and  bars),  which  belonged  to  the  Challamette 
regiment ;  this  flag,  wrapped  in  an  old  painted  table  cover,  was 
thrown  into  the  swamp  back  of  Camp  Lovell,  by  the  rebels 
where  it  was  found  by  an  engineer  of  the  gunboat  Katahdin, 
who  took  it  on  board  that  vessel. 

In  1 869,  G.  V.  Fox,  who  was  assistant  secretary  of  navy 
during  the  war,  under  Mr.  Welles,  presented  to  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society,  eight  of  the  rebel  flags  which  had  been  cap- 
tured by  our  naval  forces,  and  they  are  now  in  the  archives 
of  that  society :  viz. 

1.  The  flag  of  Fort  Walker,  Hilton  Head,  Port  Royal,  S. 
C.,  captured  by  the  naval  forces  under  Rear  Admiral  S.  F.  Du- 
pont,  Nov.  7,  1 86 1. 

2.  A  flag  found  amongst  the  abandoned  property  after  the 
above  action,  supposed  to  be  the  state  flag  of  South  Carolina. 

3.  The  flag  of  Fort  Henry,  Tennessee  river,  captured  by 
the  naval  forces  under  Rear  Admiral  A.  H.  Foote,  February  6, 
1862. 

4.  The  flag  of  Fort  St.  Philip,    Mississipi  river,    captured 
after  the  forcing  of  the  defences  of  New  Orleans  by  the  Navy, 
under  Admiral  D.  G.  Farragut,  April  24,  1862.     (Plate  ix). 

5.  The  new  flag  adopted  by  the  rebels  in   1863,  captured  by 
a  naval  force  under  Commodore  John  Rodgers,  June  17,  1863. 
It  was  said,  this  flag  was  hoisted  in  action,  on  board  the  Atlanta 
in  her  conflict  with  the  Weehawken  to  whom  it  was  surrendered. 
It  was  hauled  down  and  replaced  by  a  smaller  one,  which  was 
a  piece  of  white  field  cut  from  this  ensign.     Commodore  Rodgers 
says  "  when  first  seen,  this  white  symbol  seen  through  the  smoke 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  445 

looked  blue,  and  its  character  being  misunderstood,  two  more 
guns  were  fired." 

6.  Flag  of  the  iron-clad  Tennessee,  captured  by  a  naval  force 
under  Admiral  D.  G.  Farragut,  on  the  day  of  his  successful  en- 
trance into  Mobile  bay,  August  5,  1864. 

7.  The  flag  of  Admiral  Buchanan  who  commanded  the  Ten- 
nessee on  that  occasion. 

8.  The  flag  of  Fort  Caswell  left  flying  upon  the  flagstaff  of 
that  fort  after  its  evacuation,  consequent  upon  the  capture  of  the 
defences  of  Cape  Fear  river  by  the  United  States'  forces  under 
the  command  of  Vice  Admiral  D.  D.  Porter,  and  Major  Gene- 
ral A.  H.  Terry. 

The  flag  of  the  United  States  steam  gunboat  Ottawa,  which 
was  hoisted  over  Fore  Clinch,  the  first  United  States  fort  retaken 
from  the  rebels,  was  presented  by  Commander  T.  H.  Stevens, 
U.  S.  N.  to  the  state  of  Connecticut  and  is  deposited  in  the 
rooms  of  the  Connecticut  historical  society  at  Hartford. 


446  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

ANECDOTES  AND  INCIDENTS  SINCE  THE  WAR. 
1865  —  1872 

The  story  of  our  flag  since  the  war  is  soon  told,  though  its 
peaceful  conquests  have  not  been  unimportant. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  inspired  doubtless  by  its  result, 
Jacob  Foss,  a  native  of  Cornish  (N.  H.),  and  for  several  years 
a  citizen  of  Charlestown,  (Mass.),  bequeathed  to  Charlestown 
several  thousand  dollars  the  interest  to  be  expended  in  United 
States  flags,  in  the  celebration  of  the  fourth  of  July,  and  in  per- 
petuating the  name  of  the  old  hero,  Andrew  Jackson.  He  also 
gave  the  sum  of  $1,000  to  the  town  of  Cornish  to  be  kept  at 
interest,  the  annual  increase  thereby  to  be  expended  in  the  pur- 
chase and  erection  of  flags.  No  mottoes  are  to  be  emblazoned 
on  these  flags,  nor  are  they  to  be  used  for  party  purposes  ;  but 
on  all  important  occasions  of  a  national  character  they  are  to  be 
hoisted  to  the  breeze  and  kept  flying.1 

The  Pacific  mail  steamship  company's  steamer  Colorado,  the 
first  of  that  line  to  China,  arrived  January,  1867,  at  Hong  Kong 
via  Yokohamma,  twenty  nine  days  and  a-half  from  San  Fran- 
cisco. This  event  was  of  intense  interest  to  our  countrymen 
in  Eastern  Asia  and  her  arrival  was  greeted  by  our  naval  vessels 
with  a  salute  of  twenty-one  guns,  and  their  mastheads  were 
dressed  with  the  American  ensign.2 

July  4,  1867,  was  celebrated  at  Geneva,  Switzerland,  and,  says 
a  correspondent  to  one  of  our  papers,  "  it  was  pleasant  to  A  merican 
eyes,  sailing  across  Lake  Leman,  on  the  \th  of  July,  to  see  "  old 
glory"  floating  merrily  out.  Not  one  solitary  flag,  but  the  build- 
dings  far  and  near  flaunted  the  stars  and  stripes.  One  hotel  was 
fairly  draped  with  our  banner.  '  We  will  follow  the  flag',  said 
one  of  our  party,  and  so  to  the  Grand  Hotel  de  la  Paix  we  went, 
and  quite  a  bit  of  a  fourth  of  July  we  have  had  here  among  the 
Alps. 

"  On  going  down  to  dinner  the  landlord  surprised  us  with  a 


Boston  Herald,  1869.  2  Report  of  the  secretary  of  the  navy. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  447 

magnificent  boquet.  Waiters,  decorated  with  a  rosette  of  red, 
white  and  blue,  ushered  us  into  the  hall ;  boquets  and  silk 
American  flags,  with  every  star  in  its  place,  enlivened  the  table, 
and  no  sooner  were  we  seated  than  a  concealed  band  of  music 
struck  up  our  national  airs.  In  the  evening  one  would  really  have 
thought  himself  in  America.  Our  hotel  and  many  other  build- 
ings were  brilliantly  illuminated.  A  Swiss  steamer  fired  national 
salutes  along  the  quay.  The  waiters  sent  up  rockets  and  the 
boarders  fired  crackers,  to  the  infinite  delight  of  a  legion  of  young- 
sters. The  streets  were  alive  with  everybody  Geneva  could  turn 
out,  and  over  all  the  strains  of  martial  music  came  '  sweetly 
stealing.'  What  American  could  feel  otherwise  than  proud 
at  this  foreign  observance  of  the  day  —  a  tribute  to  free  America. 
In  the  evening  all  our  countrymen  met  in  the  reading  room  of 
the  hotel,  and  passed  a  series  of  resolutions  expressive  of  the 
gratification  of  the  Americans,  casually  assembled  at  the  hotel,  at 
their  elegant  entertainment,  and  the  manner  in  which  the  day 
had  been  remembered  by  Mons.  Kohter  the  landlord." 

In  1872,  the  day  was  again  appropriately  remembered  at 
Geneva  by  the  American  residents,  and  our  flag  was  flying  as 
freely  there  as  in  the  United  States.  In  answer  to  the  toast,  "the 
day  we  celebrate,"  Charles  Francis  Adams,  United  States  com- 
missioner for  the  arbitration  of  the  claims  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain,  made  an  appropriate  speech,  while  his 
son  of  the  same  name,  was  delivering  the  oration  before  the 
city  fathers  in  Faneuil  Hall,  Boston,  Massachusetts. 

The  4th  of  July  1872,  was  celebrated  at  Monroe,  Michigan, 
by  a  number  cf  gray-haired  veterans,  whose  ages  ranged  from 
seventy-two  to  one  hundred  and  one  and  a  half  years.  At  roll 
call  one  hundred  rose  to  their  feet  and  answered  to  their  names 
with  great  animation.  General  Leslie  Coombs  headed  the  list. 

The  veterans  had  with  them  the  identical  flag  that  they  carried 
at  Fort  Meigs  in  1812,  and  also  an  old  iron  cannon  that  was 
captured  from  the  enemy  in  1813.  There  was  a  grand  banquet 
and  toasts  and  speeches  followed  as  a  natural  consequence.  Let- 
ters were  also  read  from  the  soldiers  of  1812  and  others  who 
were  invited  but  could  not  attend. 

There  were  fully  twenty  thousand  people  in  attendance  on  the 
celebration.  The  old  men  were  in  fine  spirits,  and  promised  to 


448  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

return  in  four  years,  to  the  dedication  of  a  suitable  monument, 
which  it  is  proposed  to  erect. 

Saluting  the  Flag,  1867. —  At  the  annual  parade  of  the  Charles- 
ton, S.  C.,  fire  department,  April  27,  1867,  it  was  observed, 
notwithstanding  the  presence  of  a  great  many  of  all  other  kinds 
of  banners,  there  was  not  a  single  United  States  flag  displayed. 
General  Sickles  had  noted  the  same  significant  fact  the  year 
before  ;  but  being  assured  by  the  chief  of  the  fire  department 
that  it  was  an  inadvertence,  did  not  then  punish  the  offenders, 
but  when  the  offense  was  repeated,  in  1867,  he  took  summary 
action.  Halting  the  procession  in  the  street  he  compelled  the 
chief  to  procure  a  United  States  flag,  and  place  it  opposite  the 
reviewing  officers,  and  ordered  every  person  in  the  column  to 
salute  it  by  lifting  his  hat  or  cap  in  passing.  The  order  was  as 
promptly  obeyed,  as  it  had  been  issued  by  Gen.  Sickles. 

The  formal  transfer  and  delivery  of  Russian  America  to  the 
United  States  government  took  place  on  the  8th  of  Nov.,  1867. 
Capt.  FestrohofFacting  on  behalf  of  the  Russian  government,  and 
Major  Gen.  Rousseau  acting  on  behalf  of  the  United  States. 

At  three  o'clock  p.  M.,  a  battalion  of  United  States  troops, 
under  command  of  Major  Charles  O.  Wood  of  the  ninth  in- 
fantry, was  drawn  up  in  line  in  front  of  the  governor's  residence, 
where  the  transfer  took  place.  By  half-past  three  a  large  con- 
course of  people  had  assembled,  comprising  Americans,  Russians 
of  all  classes,  Creoles,  and  Indians,  all  eager  to  witness  the 
ceremonies. 

Precisely  at  the  last  named  hour  the  Russian  forts  and  fleet 
fired  salutes  in  honor  of  the  lowering  of  the  Russian  flag  ;  but 
the  flag  would  not  come  down.  In  lowering  it  tore  its  entire 
width  close  by  the  halliards,  and  floated  from  the  cross-trees, 
some  forty  feet  from  the  ground.  Three  Russian  sailors  then 
attempted  to  ascend  the  inch-and-a-half  guy  ropes  supporting 
the  flagstaff,  but  each  failed  to  reach  his  national  emblem.  A 
fourth  ascended  in  a  boatswain's  chair,  seized  the  flag  and  threw 
it  in  a  direction  directly  beneath  him  ;  but  the  motion  of  the 
wind  carried  it  ofF,  and  caused  sensation  in  every  heart.  Five 
minutes  after  the  lowering  of  the  Russian  flag,  the  stars  and 
stripes  went  gracefully  up,  floating  handsomely  and  free,  Mr. 
George  Lovell  Rousseau  having  the  honor  of  flinging  the  flag  to 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  449 

the  breeze,  and  the  United  States  steamers  Ossipee  and  Resaca 
simultaneously  honoring  the  event  with  a  national  salute. 

As  the  Russian  flag  was  lowered  Captain  Festrehoff  stepped 
forward  and  addressed  Gen  Rousseau  as  follows : 

"  General :  As  commissioner  of  his  imperial  majesty,  the 
emperor  of  Russia,  I  now  transfer  and  deliver  the  territory  of 
Russian  America,  ceded  by  his  majesty  to  the  United  States." 

General  Rousseau,  in  response,  as  the  American  flag  ascended, 
said  : 

"  Captain  :  As  commissioner  on  behalf  of  the  United  States 
government,  I  receive  and  accept  the  same  accordingly. " 

The  commissioners  spoke  in  a  tone  of  common  conversation, 
and  were  only  heard  by  Governor  MakesatofF,  general  JefF.  C. 
Davis,  Captain  Kuskol,  and  a  few  others  who  formed  the  troupe. 
Several  ladies  witnessed  the  ceremonies,  among  them  Princess 
MakesatofF,  Mrs.  General  Davis,  and  Mrs.  Major  Wood.  The 
Princess  wept  audibly  as  the  Russian  flag  went  down.  The 
transfer  was  conducted  in  a  purely  diplomatic  and  business-like 
manner,  neither  banquets  nor  speech-making  following.  The 
entire  transaction  was  concluded  in  a  few  hours,  the  Ossipee, 
with  the  commissioners  on  board,  steamed  into  the  harbor  at 
eleven  o'clock  this  forenoon,  and  at  four  o'clockin  the  afternoon 
a  dozen  American  flags  float  over  the  newly  born  American  city 
of  Sitka.  x 

In  1868,  possession  was  taken  by  the  United  States  of  two 
small,  uninhabited  islands  in  the  Pacific  ocean  about  half  way 
from  the  Sandwich  islands  to  Japan.  This  is  the  first  acquisi- 
tion of  territory  ever  made  by  our  government  in  this  manner. 
The  islands  are  near  together  and  each  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  long,  by  three  quarters  of  a  mile  wide.  They  were  occu- 
pied, in  obedience  to  orders  from  the  navy  department,  by  Capt. 
Wm.  Reynolds  commanding  the  U.  S.  S.  Lackawana.  He 
says  he  went  on  shore  with  six  boat  loads  of  rnen  and  several 
officers,  and  raised  the  stars  and  scripes  on  the  highest  point  of 
land,  under  a  national  salute  from  the  Lackawana.  After 
which  the  seine  was  hauled,  a  large  number  of  fish  caught,  and 
the  day  spent  in  picnicing. 


telegraphic  dispatch  to  the  newspapers,  November  10,  1867. 

57 


450  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

He  named  our  new  possession  the  Midway  islands  and  called 
the  harbor,  which  he  reported  an  excellent  one  for  vessels  drawing 
less  than  eighteen  feet,  Welles  harbor.  The  islands  are  formed 
of  coral  reefs,  give  good  shelter,  are  over  fifty  feet  in  elevation 
at  the  lowest  point.  They  are  covered  with  shrubs  and  coarse 
grass  and  afford  an  abundant  supply  of  pure  fresh  water.  It  was 
thought  that  the  bar  at  the  entrance  of  Welles  harbor  might  be 
deepened  at  a  very  small  expense,  and  a  port  vastly  superior  to 
Honolulu  established  for  the  supply  of  provisions,  water  and 
fuel  to  ocean  steamships  on  their  routes  between  San  Fran- 
cisco and  Japan,  and  also  afford  a  refuge  to  merchant  ships 
navigating  the  northern  Pacific  ocean. 

These  anticipations  have  not  been  realized.  An  appropriation 
of  $50,000  was  granted  by  congress,  March  i,  1869,  for  deepen- 
ing the  entrance  to  Welles  harbor  and  the  money  was  economi- 
cally and  judiciously  expended  under  the  directions  of  Lieut. 
Commanding  Montgomery  Sicard,  Commanding  the  United 
States  steamer  Saginaw.  More  difficulties  were  experienced  and 
greater  obstacles  encountered  than  had  been  anticipated,  and  when 
the  money  appropriated  was  exhausted,  and  the  work  in  conse- 
quence discontinued  on  the  aist  of  Oct.,  1869,  that  officer  esti- 
mated to  complete  the  cut  or  canal,  to  the  width  of  175  feet, 
would  require  about  forty-six  months  work  at  a  cost  of  $187,000 
without  counting  the  cost  of  removing  the  debris  or  small  stuff. 
He  also  reported  the  harbor  after  it  was  once  entered,  a  poor 
one  for  a  large  ship,  as  springs  would  probably  be  necessary  to 
cant  the  vessel's  head  right  for  going  out  or  to  turn  her  around. 
On  the  28th  of  Oct.,  Lieut.  Commanding  Sicard,  took  on 
board  the  Saginaw,  the  contractor's  party,  and  such  machinery 
etc.,  as  he  wished  to  carry  away,  and  left  Welles  harbor. 
The  next  morning  about  3  o'clock  his  vessel,  run  upon 
Ocean  island  reef  one  of  the  group,  and  was  lost.  Since  then 
no  farther  attempt  has  been  made  to  improve  Welles  harbor.1 
On  Friday,  August  7th,  1868,  the  last  spike  was  driven  in  the 
last  rail  on  the  Atlantic  slope  of  the  great  Union  Pacific  rail- 
road. Captain  Clayton,  who  superintended  the  laying  of  the 
track  from  the  commencement,  suggested  to  the  employees  and 
a  party  of  excursionists,  the  idea  of  erecting  a  monument  com- 

1  Reports  of  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  1869,  1870,  1871. 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  451 

memorative  of  the  event,  and  of  planting  the  national  flag  on  the 
continental  divide.  All  parties  concurring,  preparations  were 
made  for  the  interesting  ceremony,  and  on  Sunday  afternoon, 
August  gth,  a  goodly  compariy  assembled  at  a  point  about  725 
miles  from  Omaha. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Gierlow  officiated  as  master  of  ceremonies.  A 
hole  was  dug  by  Captain  Clayton,  and  our  national  banner  was 
planted  in  it  by  the  fair  hands  of  his  excellent  wife.  Then,  Mrs. 
Clayton  holding  the  flag,  Mr.  Gierlow  pronounced  the  following 
consecration  service : 

"In  the  name  of  Wisdom,  Strength,  and  Beauty,  in  the  name 
of  Faith,  Hope  and  Charity,  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity, 
we  consecrate  this  flag  to  the  glory  of  God,  the  benefit  of  civi- 
lization and  the  happiness  of  mankind.  And  when  this  lone  star 
shall  have  been  surrounded  by  the  sister  constellations,  may  its 
ample  folds  protect  us  in  the  path  of  virtue,  so  that  at  last  we 
may  become  worthy  citizens  of  the  land  of  the  beautiful,  the 
land  of  the  free." 

The  reverend  gentlemen  then  called  upon  General  Estabrook, 
of  Omaha,  Judge  Wright  and  E.  S.  Bailey,  Attorneys  of  the 
north  western  railroad,  W.  A.  Cotton,  and  M.  E.  Ward,  in 
succession,  who  each  made  appropriate  speeches  ;  after  which 
Mr.  Gierlow  pronounced  this  closing  benediction  : 

u  May  the  blessing  of  God  rest  upon  us  and  our  families  ; 
may  brotherly  love  cement  us,  and  every  moral  and  social  vir- 
tue adorn  our  lives  now  and  forever." 

The  spot  where  this  flag  was  planted  is  the  true  continental 
summit.  A  point  much  higher  above  the  sea  level  was  reached 
in  the  Black  hills,  but  there  the  waters,  though  running  both 
ways,  afterwards  meet  in  the  Platte,  and  go  commingled  to  the 
Atlantic.  On  this  continental  divide,  a  drop  of  rain  falling,  and 
not  carried  back  to  its  native  cloud  by  the  process  of  exhalation, 
one  half  of  it  would  go  to  the  Atlantic,  the  other  to  the  Pacific. 

March  2,  1865,  an  act  of  congress  authorized  the  pur- 
chase of  American  bunting  for  the  navy  in  place  of  English. 
The  encouragement  thus  afforded,  has  permanently  established 
the  manufacture,  and  the  American  article  will  compare  favor- 
ably with  the  best  English  fabrics.  The  reproach  that  we  must 


452  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

go  abroad  for  the  material  of  which  the  national  ensign  is  made 
no  longer  exists.1 

In  1869  a  useful  improvement  was  effected  in  the  making  of 
boat  flags  and  small  ensigns.  Instead  of  being  sewed  up  in  parts 
of  each  color,  as  formerly  made,  requiring  considerable  labor, 
and  resulting  in  a  more  or  less  clumsy  flag,  particularly  when  of 
small  dimensions,  they  are  now  furnished  to  the  navy  dyed  in  pat- 
terns, so  as  to  require  but  three  pieces,  in  making  up.  They  are 
thus  less  costly,  neater  in  appearance,  and  equally  durable  in  fa- 
bric and  color,  while  flying  more  easily  in  a  light  breeze.2 

The  latest  triumph  of  our  flag  is  its  advance  into  the  interior  of 
Africa  at  the  head  of  the  caravan  of  Mr.  Stanley  of  the  New 
York  Herald,  when  he  communicated  with  the  great  African  ex- 
plorer, Doctor  David  Livingston,  at  Ujiji  in  Nov.  1871. 

Having  in  these  memoirs  traced  the  progress  of  our  flag  through 
all  its  changes  until  its  establishment  in  a  permanent  form 
in  1818  ;  having  marked  its  first  appearance  on  seas  now  whit- 
ened with  our  canvas,  and  the  remote  places  on  the  earth, 
everywhere,  where  man  is  known  to  have  penetrated,  and  to  ul- 
timathules  beyond  man's  previous  attempts  ;  having  seen  it 
emerge  triumphant,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  star,  and  with 
added  lustre,  from  the  terrors  of  the  unholy  war  that  was 
waged  against  it,  we  take  leave  of  its  glittering  and  multiplied 
constellations,  and,  "  Let  us,  standing  by  our  fathers'  graves, 
swear  anew  and  teach  the  oath  to  our  children,  that  with  God's 
help  the  American  republic  shall  stand  unmoved  though  all  the 
powers  of  piracy  and  European  jealousy  should  combine  to  over- 
throw it ;  that  we  shall  have  in  the  future  as  we  have  in  the 

past,    ONE    COUNTRY,  ONE     CONSTITUTION,    ONE     DESTINY,    and 

that  when  we  shall  have  passed  from  earth,  and  the  acts  of  to- 
day shall  be  matters  of  history,  and  the  dark  power  which  sought 
our  overthrow,  shall  have  been  overthrown,  our  sons  may  gather 
strength  from  our  example  in  every  contest  with  despotism,  that 
time  may  have  in  store  to  try  their  virtue,  and  that  they  may 
rally  under  the  stars  and  stripes  with  our  olden  war  cry  LIBERTY 

AND  UNION,  NOW  AND  FOREVER  ONE  AND  INSEPARABLE."3 


Seepage  259. 

2  Report  of  bureau  of  navigation,  October  20,  1869. 

3  John  Jay's  Address  at  Mount  Kisko,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  4,  1861. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  453 

Originally  a  small  constellation  emerging  from  the  darkness 
of  tyranny  and  oppression  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  north 
American  continent  our  flag  has,  within  the  first  century  of 
its  appearance  on  the  political  firmament,  crossed  the  continent 
and  with  its  constellation,  tripled  in  lustre  by  the  accession  of 
new  states,  glitters  over  the  Pacific  where  its  stars  of  empire 
bid  fair  to  rival  in  number  and  brilliancy  those  of  the  Atlantic 
cluster. 

"  O  glorious  Flag  ;  red,  white  and  blue 

Bright  emblem  of  the  pure  and  true, 

O  glorious  group  of  clustering  stars, 

Ye  lines  of  light,  ye  crimson  bars, 

Trampled  in  dust  by  traitor  feet, 

Once  more  your  flowing  folds  we  greet 

Triumphant  over  all  defeat ; 

Henceforth  in  every  clime  to  be, 

Unfading  scarf  of  liberty, 

THE  ENSIGN  OF  THE  BRAVE  AND  FREE."  l 


1  Hon.  Edward  J.  Preston. 


PL  .XX 


DISTINCTIVE    FLAGS     U.  S.NAVY, 


COMMODORES     PENDANTS    1776    TO  1860. 

a,    star  fbr-  cadi     State  .         


t  *•*** 
*  *  *  * 


FLAG    OFFICERS    FLAGS    1858-1866. 


A DM 'I HAL 


HEAR  ADMIRAL 


COMMOOOftf 


COMMODORE 

REGULATION.      1866-69. 


¥ICC  AOMIKAL 


CQMHODOHt 


\4DHlMl,¥lCe  ADMIRAL 

<S  REAR    AOMIRA& 


VICE  ADMIRAL'S 

BOAT       FLAG. 


COMMODORE 
REGULATION         1869-72 


REAR  ADMIKAL  'S 

BOAT    FLAG 


SEN  IOH  OFFICERS 


PART    VI 


APPENDIX. 

THE  DISTINGUISHING  FLAGS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  NAVY. 
1776-1872. 

THE  DISTINGUISHING  FLAGS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  ARMY. 

1872. 

THE  SEAL  AND  ARMS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 
1782-1872. 

AMERICAN  YACHT  CLUBS  AND  FLAGS. 
1872. 

OUR  NATIONAL  SONGS. 


"A  nation's  character  is  the  sum  of  its  splendid  deeds  j  they  constitute  one  common 
patrimony,  the  nation's  inheritance.  They  awe  foreign  powers,  they  arouse  and  ani- 
mate our  own  people."  —  Henry  Clay. 


"  Americans  your  Fathers'  shed 

Their  blood  to  rear  the  Union's  fame  ; 
For  this  our  fearless  Banner  spread 

On  many  a  gory  plain. 
Americans  let  no  one  dare, 

On  mountain,  valley,  prairie,  flood, 
By  hurling  down  that  Temple  there, 

To  desecrate  that  blood  ! 
The  Right  shall  live,  while  Faction  dies  ! 

All  traitors  draw  a  fleeting  breath 
But  Patriots  drink  from  God's  own  eyes, 

Truths'  light  that  conquers  Death." 


.  Ross  Wallace. 


"  Stand  by  the  flag,  its  folds  have  streamed  in  glory, 

To  foes  a  fear,  to  friends  a  festal  robe, 
And  spread  in  rythmic  lines  the  sacred  story 

Of  freedom's  triumphs  over  all  the  globe  ; 
Stand  by  the  flag,  on  land,  and  ocean  billow  j 

By  it  your  fathers  stood,  unmoved  and  true  ; 
Living,  defended ;  dying,  from  their  pillow, 

With  their  last  blessing,  pass'd  it  on  to  you. 

"  Stand  by  the  flag,  though  death-shots  round  it  rattle  ; 

And  underneath  its  waving  folds  have  met, 
In  all  the  dread  array  of  sanguine  battle, 

The  quivering  lance  and  glittering  bayonet  j 
Stand  by  the  flag,  all  doubt  and  treason  scorning, 

Believe,  with  courage  firm  and  faith  sublime, 
That  it  will  float  until  the  eternal  morning 

Pales  in  its  glories  all  the  lights  of  time." 

Anonymous. 


APPENDIX 


THE  DISTINGUISHING  FLAGS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

NAVY,  1776-1872. 

From  the  formation  of  our  navy  to  the  present  time  a  long, 
narrow  pendant,  or  coach  whip,  as  it  is  generally  called,  has  been 
the  designating  mark  of  a  captain  in  the  navy,  and  of  officers  of 
inferior  rank  when  commanding  a  United  States  vessel  of  war.1 

One  of  the  earliest  laws  of  the  continental  congress,  on  the 
subject  of  a  navy,  forbade  merchant  ships,  or  privateers,  wearing 
this  symbol  of  rank  and  authority  when  in  the  presence  of  a 
vessel  of  war. 

The  first  commander-in-chief  of  the  American  navy,  Commo- 
dore Esek  Hopkins,  wore  for  his  standard  a  square,  yellow  silk 
flag  blazoned  with  a  lively  representation  of  a  rattlesnake,  in  the 
act  of  striking,  and  underneath  it  the  motto:  "  Dont  tread  on 
me."  One  description  of  this  flag  says,  the  rattlesnake  was  at  the 
foot  of  a  pine  tree. 

How  long  this  flag  continued  in  use,  or  when  it  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  proper,  broad  pendant  of  a  commodore,  is  unknown. 

When  the  stars  and  stripes  were  adopted,  or  very  soon  after, 
the  commodore's  broad  pendant  was  made  to  conform  to  their 
union,  and  was  blazoned  with  the  same  number  of  stars. 

These  broad  pendants  were  blue,  red,  or  white  according  to  the 
seniority  of  the  captains  commanding  squadrons  who  were,  by 
courtesy,  styled  commodores.  The  blue  was  always  worn,  except- 
ing when  more  than  one  officer  authorized  by  the  secretary  of  the 
navy  to  wear  a  broad  pendant  happened  into  the  same  port.  In 
that  case,  the  senior  officer  retained  the  blue  pendant,  the  next  in 
rank  wore  a  red  pendant,  and  the  third  in  rank  a  white  pendant. 
(Plate  x.) 

1  When  Van  Tromp,  the  Dutch  admiral,  hoisted  a  broom  at  his  masthead  to  indicate 
his  intention  to  sweep  the  English  from  the  sea,  the  English  admiral  hoisted  a  horse- 
whip, indicative  of  his  intention  to  chastise  the  insolent  Dutchman;  and  ever  since 
that  time  the  narrow  or  coach  whip  pendant,  symbolizing  the  original  horsewhip,  has 
been  the  distinctive  mark  of  a  vessel  of  war,  and  has  been  adopted  as  such  by  all  nations. 

It  is  still  the  custom  in  England  to  hang  a  broom  at  the  masthead  of  a  vessel  offered 
for  sale  at  auction. 

58 


458  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

A  description  of  the  first  signals  used  by  the  American  fleet  can 
be  found  in  the  preceding  pages  of  this  work.1 

In  1800,  Capt.  Edward  Preble,  in  command  of  the  U.  S. 
frigate  Essex,  devised  some  signals  for  communicating  with  the 
vessels  under  his  convoy,  which  he  appears  to  have  copied  from  a 
printed  code  of  signals  obtained  from  Sir  Roger  Curtis,  Bart., 
commanding  a  British  squadron  at  the  cape  of  Good  Hope.  The 
English  signals  and  several  copies  of  the  signal  books  used  by  Pre- 
ble's  convoy  are  preserved  with  his  papers.  Among  his  papers, 
also,  are  several  manuscript  signal  books,  containing  the  day  and 
night  signals  established  for  the  Mediterranean  squadron  by  Com- 
modore Richard  V.  Morris,  and  which  were  continued  by  Com- 
modore Preble,  who  succeeded  him  in  command  of  the  American 
squadron  before  Tripoli  in  1803-4.  The  day  signals  of  this 
code  were  made  by  means  of  twelve  square  flags  and  three  pen- 
dants, viz.,  ten  numerals  I  to  o,  a  cornet,  an  answering  flag, 
and  three  triangles  or  repeaters,  being  the  same  number  now 
used.  The  night  signals  were  made  by  lanterns,  variously  ar- 
ranged. 

There  was  also  a  flag,  called  a  diptote*  which,  when  hoisted 
with  a  signal,  denoted  the  execution  of  that  signal  was  post- 
poned After  the  signal  was  answered,  a  flag  was  displayed 
showing  the  hour  to  which  the  execution  of  the  signal  was  post- 
poned. Hoisted  at  the  fore,  the  numerical  value  of  the  diptote 
signified  A.  M.  At  the  main  P.  M.  The  diptote  had  also  a  two 
fold  character  and  was  useful  to  multiply  or  divide  a  signal. 
Hoisted  between  Nos.  8  &  6,  for  instance,  the  signal  was  to  be 
read  43  ;  again  suppose  signal  264  flying,  and  it  was  wished  to 
make  265,  but  the  vessel  had  only  one  set  of  signal  flags ;  then 
the  flags  hoisted  would  be  Nos.  I  and  3,  diptote  5  ;  the  diptote 
doubling  the  value  of  the  flags  hoisted  over  it. 

These  signal  books,  give  the  distinguishing  flags  of  several 
of  the  vessels  belonging  to  our  navy,  at  that  time,  viz.: 

Frigate  United  States,       Square  flag,       Blue,  white,  red   perpendicular. 
"      Philadelphia,  "  Red,  white,  blue.      In  another 

book,  white  with  a  red  ball. 
"      Chesapeake.  Burgee,  Blue.      In  another  book,  yellow 

with  red  cross. 
"      President,  Square  flag,      Blue,  white  perpendicular.     In 

another  book  all  blue. 

"      Constitution,  Blue  with  yellow  cross.      In  an- 

other book  half  blue  and  white 

perpendicular. 

1  See  pages  162,  165. 

a  Diptote,  from  the  Greek  signifying  twice  two  fold.     In  grammar,  a  noun  which 
has  only  two  cases. —  Webster's  Dictionary. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


459 


Frigate  New  York, 
"      Congress, 

"      Essex, 


Adams, 

Ship  Boston, 

"  John  Adams, 

11  Gen'l.  Greene, 

Brig.  Nautilus, 

"  Vixen, 

"  Syren, 

"  Scourge, 

Schr.  Enterprise, 


Square  flag,       Red,  yellow  ring  in  centre. 

"  Three    yellow,  two    red    stripes 

horizontal. 

"  Red,  white,  red  horizontal  and 

also,    red  with   white  square 
centre. 

Burgee,  Red. 

Square  flag,       White,  with  yellow  or  blue  cross. 
"  Blue  with  red  cross. 

"  White  with  red  cross. 

Red  and  white  perpendicular. 
"  Blue  and  red,  perpendicular. 

Swallowtails,    Red  with  white  cross. 
Burgee,  White. 

Square  flag,      Yellow,  blue  or  black  cross. 


The  naval  regulations,  issued  by  command  of  the  president  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  Jan.  25,  1803,  make  no  mention 
of  a  flag  or  broad  pendant  for  a  commander  of  a  squadron,  though 
it  is  known  one  was  then  in  use. 

The  rules  and  regulations,  prepared  in  1818,  by  a  board  of 
navy  commissioners  agreeably  to  an  act  passed  Feb.  7,  1815, 
merely  say  "  commodores  are  to  wear  their  broad  pendants  at  all 
times  on  board  the  ship  they  command  "  and  should  the  com- 
mander of  a  fleet  or  squadron  be  killed  or  disabled  in  battle,  "  his 
flag  is  to  be  kept  flying  while  the  enemy  remains  in  sight."  They 
also  established  the  relative  rank  of  commodores  in  the  navy 
with  brigadier  generals  in  the  army.1 

The  rules  of  the  navy  department,  additional  to  the  rules  and 
regulations  of  1818,  promulgated  March,  1832,  by  the  Hon. 
Levi  Woodbury,  secretary  of  the  navy,  prescribed  and  established 
that  whenever  a  captain  in  the  navy  was  appointed  to  a  command 
on  a  foreign  station,  consisting  of  more  than  one  vessel  of  war,  he 
was  authorized  to  hoist  his  broad  pendant  as  soon  as  he  took  charge 
of,  and  was  ready  to  sail  in  any  vessel  belonging  to  his  squadron, 
and  his  extra  allowances  as  a  commander  of  a  squadron  were  then 
to  commence.  On  ceasing  to  command  any  such  vessel  he  was 
to  lower  his  pendant,  and  his  extra  allowances  for  rations  and 
cabin  furniture  were  then  to  cease. 

Towards  the  close  of  1833,  Levi  Woodbury,  the  then  secretary 
of  the  navy,  submitted  to  General  Jackson  the  president  of  the 
United  States,  a  set  of  rules  and  regulations  for  the  United  States 
navy,  which  were  submitted  by  them  with  his  approval  to  congress. 


'"The  printed  regulations  of  1818  took  effect  in  the  United  States  on  the  ist 
of  December,  18 1 8,  abroad  on  the  1st  of  Jan.,  1819."  Rules  of  Navy  Department, 
1834. 


460  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

They  were  referred  to  the  naval  committee  but  for  some  unex- 
plained reason  failed  to  become  a  law. 

These  regulations  looked  to  the  appointment  of  admirals,  vice 
admirals  and  rear  admirals,  but  provided  "  until  such  grades 
were  established  "  "that  captains  of  10  years  should  rank  with 
brigadier  generals,  and  15  years  after  the  date  of  their  commis- 
sions with  major  generals."  Should  there  be  created  a  higher 
rank  than  captain,  then  rear  admirals  were  to  rank  with  major 
generals,  vice  admirals  with  lieutenant  generals,  and  admirals  with 
generals  as  they  do  now. 

Article  109  of  these  regulations  provides  that  "  an  officer  ap- 
pointed to  command  a  squadron,  shall  hoist  his  proper  flag  or 
distinguishing  pendant  on  the  vessel  appointed  to  receive  him 
and  shall  wear  it  until  his  suspension,  removal,  or  return  to 
the  United  States."  x 

Another  set  of  rules  and  regulations  in  compliance  with  a  reso- 
lution of  congress  was  prepared  and  presented  to  that  body,  Janu- 
ary 13,  1843,  ^7  tne  Hon.  A.  P.  Upshur,  secretary  of  the  navy, 
but  like  the  former  they  were  not  legalized.  These  regulations 
prescribed  that  "  no  officer  below  the  rank  of  captain  shall  be  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  a  fleet,  squadron,  or  port  station,  and 
the  officer  so  appointed  will  be  authorized  to  hoist  a  broad  pen- 
dant. But  an  officer  who  may  succeed  to  the  command  of  a 
squadron  abroad  shall  be  invested  with  all  the  authority  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief.  No  officer  shall  under  any  circumstances  hoist  a 
broad  pendant  without  special  authority  of  the  navy  department ; 
and  when  captains  thus  authorized  shall  meet  in  command,  the 
seniors  shall  continue  to  wear  the  blue,  the  next  in  seniority  the 
red,  and  all  others  the  white.  If  an  officer  authorized  to  wear  a 
broad  pendant  shall  meet  his  senior  while  in  command  without  a 
broad  pendant,  the  junior  shall  not  wear  a  broad  pendant  in  the 
presence  of  such  senior."  Captains  "while  entitled  to  wear  a 
broad  pendant"  were  by  the  same  rules  "  to  rank  with  brigadier 
generals  but  at  all  other  times  with  colonels  in  the  army."  The 
general,  abroad,  under  this  rule,  was  often  found  by  his  foreign 
friends,  when  visiting  the  United  States,  to  be  only  a  colonel  at 
home,  and  they  might  well  imagine  he  had  lost  his  rank  from  bad 
conduct  or  inefficiency. 

Agreeably  to  an  act  passed  March  3,  1857,  another  set  of 
rules  and  regulations   was  prepared   by  a  board  of  officers  and 
submitted  to  congress  by  Isaac  Toucey,  secretary  of  the  navy, 
with  his  annual  report,  December  6,  1858.    Like  its  predecessors 
it  failed  to  become  a  law. 


1  Congress.  Doc.  No.  20.      2,3d  Congress,  ist  session,  H.  of  Rep.  Executive. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  461 

One  provision  of  these  rules  was  that  when  the  president  of 
the  United  States  visited  a  vessel  of  war  he  should  be  received  upon 
the  deck  by  all  the  officers  in  full  uniform  ;  the  yards  were  to  be 
manned  ;  the  full  marine  guard  paraded  with  presented  arms,  and 
the  music  to  give  three  ruffles  of  the  drum,  and  play  a  march. 
He  was  further  to  receive  a  salute  of  21  guns.  During  his  pre- 
sence on  board  ship,  the  National  Ensign  was  to  be  displayed  at  the 
main  and  the  flag  or  pendants  indicating  the  command  of  any 
other  officer  was  to  be  struck.  The  vice  president  of  the  United 
States  was  to  be  received  with  the  same  honors,  less  three  guns  of 
the  salute,  and  an  ex-president  was  to  receive  the  honors  pre- 
scribed for  the  president  excepting  the  display  of  the  national 
ensign  at  the  main  and  manning  the  yards. 

By  the  same  rules  and  regulations  no  officer  under  the 
rank  of  a  captain  was  entitled  to  wear  a  broad  pendant,  and  no 
captain  was  to  hoist  one  without  the  direction  of  the  secretary 
of  the  navy.  A  captain  authorized  to  hoist  a  broad  pendant  was 
to  be  entitled  to  wear  it  until  ordered  to  strike  it  by  the  secre- 
tary of  the  navy,  except  in  the  presence  of  a  senior  captain  wear- 
ing a  narrow  pendant.  Blue,  red,  or  white  pendants  were  to  mark 
.seniority  as  in  the  preceding  orders,  and  the  officer  was  allowed 
to  shift  his  pendant  to  any  vessel  of  his  fleet,  squadron  or  divi- 
sion, assigning  his  reasons  for  the  change  by  the  first  opportunity 
to  the  secretary  or  commander-in-chief. 

The  pendant  of  a  commander  of  a  squadron  was  only  to  be 
worn  on  a  vessel  at  sea,  when  the  officer  entitled  to  it  was  em- 
barked in  her  and  was  to  be  struck  if  he  intended  being  absent 
from  her  over  twenty-four  hours,  and  was  then  to  be  worn  by 
the  ship  commanded  by  the  officer  next  in  rank  or  the  captain 
of  the  fleet,  if  senior,  until  his  return. 

The  same  year  (1857), tne  lumbering,  and  now  happily  obso- 
lete, title  of  fag  officer  was  introduced  into  the  naval  service.  An 
act  of  congress,  approved  January  16,  1857,  directed  that  "cap- 
tains in  command  of  squadrons  "  should  be  denominated  flag 
officers.  The  officers  so  appointed  flag  officers  continuing  to  wear 
the  broad  pendant  of  a  commodore  or  to  hoist  the  square  flag  of 
an  admiral  as  they  deemed  most  proper.  A  year  later  this  act 
was  supplemented  by  the  following  order  from  the  secretary  of 
the  navy  relative  to  their  distinctive  flags  which  had  not  been 
before  prescribed. 

"Navy  Department,  May  i8th,  1858. 

"It  is  hereby  ordered  that  in  lieu  of  the  broad  pendant  now 
worn  by  '  flag  officers'  in  command  of  squadrons  they  shall 
wear  a  plain  blue  flag  of  dimensions  proportionate  to  the  different 


4(32  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

classes  of  vessels  prescribed  for  the  Jack  in  the   Tables  of  al- 
lowance, approved  July  2Oth,  1854. 

"  Flag  officers,  whose   date  of  commission  as  captain  is  over 
twenty  years,  shall  wear  it  at  the  fore ;  all  others  at  the  mizzen. 

"  ISAAC  TOUCEY, 

"  Secretary  of  the  Navy." 


This  order  virtually  introduced  the  flags  of  vice  and  rear 
admirals  into  our  navy  though  the  title  was  considered  to  be  too 
aristocratic  sounding  for  republican  ears  at  that  time. 

In  1859,  thi8  order  was  further  extended,  viz.  : 


"  Navy  Department,  September  26th,  1859. 

"  Captains  in  command  of  navy  yards,  who  by  order  of  the 
department  have  commanded  a  squadron,  will  be  allowed  to 
wear  the  flag  authorized  by  the  general  order  of  May  i8th, 
1  858,  on  the  receiving  ship  attached  to  the  station.  Should  there 
be  no  receiving  ship,  attached  to  the  station,  then  at  any  suitable 
place  in  the  yard  under  his  command. 

"  The  senior  flag  officer  of  the  navy  will  wear  his  flag  at  the 
main. 

"  ISAAC  TOUCEY, 

"  Secretary  of  the  Navy" 


The  senior  officer  of  the  navy  at  that  time  was  Captain 
Charles  Stewart,  and  the  blue  flag  at  the  main,  the  distinctive 
mark  of  a  full  admiral,  was  an  intended  compliment  to  him. 

That  old  hero  died  in  1869,  and  complained,  with  reason  in 
1866,  of  his  promotion  (?)  to  the  rank  of  a  rear  admiral,  on  the 
retired  list,  giving  him  the  right  of  wearing  his  flag  at  the  miz- 
zen,  and  with  a  greatly  reduced  pay. 

The  next  general  order  on  the  subject  was  issued  only  two  days 
before  Mr.  Toucey  retired  from  the  navy  department  and  was 
as  follows : 

"Navy  Department,  March  ad,  1861. 

"  When  officers  entitled  to  wear  flags  meet,  or  are  in  the  pre- 
sence of  each  other,  the  senior  shall  wear  the  plain  blue  flag 
prescribed  by  general  order ;  the  next  in  rank  a  plain  red  one  of 
similar  dimensions  ;  and  the  next  in  rank  a  plain  white  one  ; 
each  resuming  the  plain  blue  flag  when  they  separate. 

"  ISAAC  TOUCEY, 

"  Secretary  of  the  Navy" 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  463 

The  fourth  section  of  an  act  to  promote  the  efficiency  of  the 
navy,  approved  Dec.  21,  1861,  again  recognized  the  rank  and 
title  of  flag  officer,  thus  : 

"  And  be  it  further  enacted,  that  the  president  of  the  United 
States  shall  have  authority  to  select  any  officer,  from  the  grades 
of  captain  or  commander  in  the  navy,  and  assign  him  to  the  com- 
mand of  a  squadron,  with  the  rank  and  title  of  a  '  Flag  Officer'; 
and  any  officer  thus  assigned  shall  have  the  same  authority  and  re- 
ceive the  same  obedience  from  the  commanders  of  ships  in  his 
squadron,  holding  commissions  of  an  older  date  than  his,  that  he 
would  be  entitled  to  receive  were  his  commission  the  oldest ;  and  to 
receive,  when  so  employed,  the  pay  to  which  he  would  have 
been  entitled  if  he  were  on  the  active  list  of  the  navy." 

By  this  mean  expedient,  in  a  time  of  war,  it  was  proposed  to 
obviate  the  necessity  of  the  appointment  and  permanent  com- 
missioning of  any  officers  of  a  higher  rank  than  captains  (answer- 
ing to  colonels  in  the  army).  It  is  believed  it  was  the  first,  only, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  it  will  be  the  last  instance,  in  which  the 
rank  of  a  commission,  and  its  corresponding  rights  and  privileges, 
was  duly  legislated  away  in  our  navy. 

The  inconvenient  absurdity  of  such  a  law,  and  its  injurious 
effect  upon  the  harmony,  efficiency  and  discipline  of  the  service, 
was  soon  perceived,  and  the  act  was  followed  by  another,  approved 
July  1 6,  1862,  "to  establish  and  equalize  the  line  officers  of  the 
navy,"  looking  to  a  general  reorgnization  of  the  naval  service.  By 
this  act,  provision  was  made  for  the  appointment  of  nine  rear 
admirals  on  the  active  list,  to  be  selected,  during  the  war,  from 
those  officers,  not  below  the  grade  of  commanders,  who  were 
most  distinguished  for  courage,  skill  and  genius  in  their  profes- 
sion. No  one  was  to  be  appointed  who  had  not,  upon  the  re- 
commendation of  the  president,  by  name,  received  the  thanks  of 
congress  for  distinguished  service.  By  the  same  act  nine  rear 
admirals  on  the  retired  list  were  to  be  selected  from  the  captains 
who  had  given  the  most  faithful  service  to  the  country. 

The  same  act  directed  :  "  That  the  three  senior  rear  admirals 
shall  wear  a  square  flag  at  the  main-masthead  ;  the  next  three, 
at  the  fore  topmast  head,  and  all  others  at  the  mizzen." 

Underthislaw  David  Glasgow  Farragut  was  commissioned  the 
senior  rear  admiral,  and  hoisted  a  plain  blue  flag  at  the  main  of  the 
Hartford,  his  flagship,  at  New  Orleans  on  the  I3th  of  August, 
1862,  it  being  the  flag  which  he  had  to  that  time  worn  at  the  mizzen 
of  the  Hartford  as  a  flag  officer.  His  flag  thus  hoisted  at  the 
main  was  saluted  by  the  Hartford,  Brooklyn,  Mississippi  and 
Pensacola,  then  anchored  in  front  of  New  Orleans.  Thus  was 
an  admiral's  flag  for  the  first  time  legally  hoisted  at  the  main  in 
our  navy. 


464  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  absurdity  of  a  rear  admiral  wearing  his  flag  at  the  fore 
or  main,  opposed  as  it  is  to  the  custom  of  all  other  naval 
powers,  soon  became  apparent,  and  at  the  suggestion  of  the 
Hon.  Richard  H.  Dana  Jr.,  the  next  congress,  by  the  2d  sec- 
tion of  an  act  approved  March  3,  1863,  repealed  the  absurd 
law  and  enacted  that  section  twelve,  of  an  act  entitled  an 
act  to  equalize  the  grade  of  line  officers,  etc.,  directing  "  that  the 
three* senior  rear  admirals  shall  wear  a  square  flag  at  the  main- 
mast head,  the  next  three  at  the  foremast  head,  and  all  others 
at  the  mizzen  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  repealed." 

By  this  act,  all  law  on  the  subject  was  repealed  and  the  dis- 
tinguishing flags  for  admirals,  etc.,  and  the  regulation  as  to  how 
and  where  they  were  to  be  worn  was  left  discretionary  with  the 
department.  Under  it  Rear  Admiral  Farragut  hauled  down  his 
flag  at  the  main,  and  rehoisted  it  at  the  mizzen.  He  soon  after, 
on  his  promotion  to  vice  admiral,  Dec.  21,  1864,  hoisted  his 
flag  at  the  fore. 

No  general  order  was,  however,  issued  on  the  subject,  until 
the  allowances  established  for  vessels  of  the  navy,  in  1864,  was 
published,  in  February,  1865,  by  authority  of  the  secretary  of  the 
navy.  By  those  tables  an  admiral's  distinctive  flag  was  re- 
quired to  be  "  a  rectangle  in  shape,  and  to  have  its  opposite  sides 
parallel  and  equal,  and  to  be  all  of  one  color,  blue,  red,  or  white 
without  any  stars,"  being  the  same  as  had  been  previously  pre- 
scribed for  flag  officers. 

The  next  official  order  on  the  subject  is  to  be  found  in  the  regu- 
lations for  the  government  of  the  United  States  navy,  issued  and 
established  April  18,  1865,  by  a  general  order  of  the  Hon. 
Gideon  Welles,  secretary. 

These  regulations  were  the  first  to  authoritatively  pre- 
scribe a  flag  denoting  the  presence  of  the  president  or  vice 
president  of  the  United  States,  members  of  the  cabinet,  secretary 
of  the  navy,  governors  of  the  states  of  the  union,  and  the  honors 
and  ceremonies  to  be  observed  at  the  reception  of  each  on  board 
our  national  vessels.  By  these  rules,  the  flag  of  the  president  of 
the  United  States,  was  the  American  ensign  displayed  at  the  main 
from  the  time  of  his  reaching  the  deck  of  the  vessel  until  his 
departure;  the  usual  flag  or  pendant  of  the  officer  commanding 
being,  for  the  time,  struck.  For  the  vice  president,  when  received 
on  board  one  of  our  vessels  in  a  foreign  port,  the  American  ensign 
was  to  be  displayed  at  the  fore ;  and  the  same  honor  was  re- 
quired to  be  paid  to  members  of  the  cabinet,  justices  of  the 
supreme  court,  and  the  governors  of  states  of  the  union. 

The  flag  of  a  rear  admiral  was  to  be  a  rectangular,  plain  blue 
flag,  and  to  be  worn  at  the  mizzen.  But  if  two  or  more  rear 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  465 

admirals  in  command,  afloat,  should  meet,  or  be  in  the  presence 
of  each  other,  the  senior  only  was  to  wear  the  blue,  the  next 
in  seniority  the  red,  and  the  other  or  all  others  the  white.  Rear 
admirals  in  command  of  shore  stations  were  allowed  to  wear 
their  flag  on  the  receiving  ship,  or  at  some  suitable  place  within 
the  navy  yard. 

No  officer  was  to  hoist  a  broad  pendant  except  in  command 
of  a  separate  squadron,  and  when,  by  authority  of  the  secretary 
of  the  navy,  so  authorized  he  was  not  to  strike  it  until  duly  or- 
dered, except  on  meeting  with  an  officer  of  a  different  squadron 
or  commanding  a  station,  who  was  senior  or  superior  to  himself, 
wearing  a  narrow  pendant.  The  usual  and  necessary  distinctions 
of  color  in  the  pendants  to  denote  relative  seniority  was  prescribed. 

As  the  grade  of  commodore,  with  a  commission  as  such,  had 
existed  in  the  navy  since  the  act  of  1861,  these  restrictions 
upon  the  use  of  the  recognized  commodore's  pendant  were,  to  say 
the  least,  singular.  However  after  a  commodore  had  been  duly 
authorized  to  wear  a  broad  pendant  at  sea  he  was  privileged  to 
hoist  one  on  board  the  receiving  ship,  or  elsewhere,  at  any  suita- 
ble place  within  his  command,  when  commanding  a  shore  station. 

Any  officer,  not  authorized  to  wear  the  flag  of  a  rear  admiral, 
nor  the  broad  pendant  of  a  commodore,  but  appointed  by  an  ex- 
press order  to  command  a  division  of  a  squadron,  was  to  wear  a 
divisional  mark  of  the  size  prescribed  in  the  book  of  allowances 
viz.  :  (5  to  8  feet  hoist  by  from  4  feet  to  6  length  of  fly),  at 
the  mast  head  where  the  pendant  is  usually  worn.  These  divi- 
sional marks  were  to  be  triangular  in  shape  with  the  middle  part 
of  a  different  color  from  the  rest,  in  the  form  of  a  wedge,  the  base 
occupying  one  third  of  the  fly.  For  the  ist  division  blue,  white, 
blue  ;  for  the  2d  division  red,  white,  red  ;  for  the  3d  division 
white,  blue,  white. 

When  two  or  more  vessels  of  the  navy  in  commission,  away 
from  a  naval  station,  were  assembled,  the  senior  officer  present, 
if  not  authorized  to  wear  a  flag  of  higher  significance,  was  to 
wear  a  triangular  pendant,  in  shape  like  the  divisional  pendants, 
but  white,  red,  white.  Any  officer  commanding  a  vessel  of  the 
navy,  and  not  entitled  to  wear  either  of  the  aforementioned  flags 
or  pendants,  was  to  wear  a  narrow  pendant  at  the  main  ;  but  this 
pendant  was  to  be  regarded  not  as  an  emblem  of  rank,  but 
rather  significant  of  command,  and  that  the  vessel  was  of  a  public 
character. 

On  the  25th  of  July,   1866,  Vice  Admiral  David  Glasgow 

Farragut  was    commissioned  a   full   admiral,  the  first  admiral 

ever  commissioned  in  our  navy,  as  he  was  also  the  first  who  ever 

obtained  the  rank  of  vice  admiral.     Rear  Admiral  David  D. 

59 


466  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Porter  was  at  the  same  time  selected  and  commissioned  to  succeed 
him  as  the  vice  admiral*  These  new  grades  required  a  new  ar- 
rangement of  distinctive  flags,  and  which  the  naval  signal  code 
prepared  by  Commodore  Thornton  A.  Jenkins  under  authority 
of  the  secretary  of  the  navy  prescribed.  .  (Plate  x),  viz.  : 

1.  For  the  President  of  the    United  States.     The  union  flag, 
or  jack,  viz.,  a  blue,  rectangular  flag  studded  with  a  constellation 
of  white  stars  equal  in  number  to  the  states  of  the  union. 

This  flag  to  be  hoisted  at  the  main  royal  masthead  of  any 
vessel  of  war  or  tender  of  the  navy  while  the  president  of  the 
United  States  was  on  board,  and  to  be  carried  in  the  bows  of  a 
boat  belonging  to  any  vessel  in  the  navy  in  which  the  president 
of  the  United  States,  for  the  time  being,  was  embarked. 

The  president's  flag  was  to  be  honored  with  a  salute  of  21  guns. 

2.  For  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy.     A  blue,  rectangular  flag  10*25 
10-40  feet  in  hoist;  14*40  feet  in  length  of  fly  with  a  white  foul 
anchor,  three  feet  in   extreme  length,  placed  vertically  in  the 
centre,   with  four  white   stars  in  each  corner  of  the  flag  sur- 
rounding the  anchor. 

This  flag  to  be  hoisted  at  the  main  royal  masthead  when- 
ever the  secretary  of  the  navy  embarked  on  board  a  vessel  of 
the  navy,  while  he  remained  on  board,  and  to  be  carried  at  the 
bow  of  any  boat  or  tender  in  which  he  was  embarked.  The 
flag  of  the  secretary  to  be  saluted  with  fifteen  guns. 

3.  For  the  Admiral.     A  rectangular  flag  of  a  blue  color,  with 
four  white  stars  in  the  centre  forming  a  diamond. 

This  flag  to  be  worn  at  the  main  of  his  flag  ship,  and  in  the 
bows  of  his  barge,  tender,  or  other  boat  in  which  he  was  em- 
barked. This  flag  was  first  hoisted  on  the  Steam  Frigate  Frank- 
lin, Admiral  Farragut's  flag  ship,  at  New  York,  in  June,  1867. 
The  admiral's  salute  is  seventeen  guns. 

4.  For  the  Vice  Admiral.     A  plain  blue,  rectangular  flag,  with 
three  five  pointed,  white  stars  arranged  as  an  equilateral  triangle 
eighteen  inches  from  centre  to  centre  with  the  upper  star  eighteen 
inches  from  the  head  and  twenty-seven  inches  from  the  tabling. 

His  flag  to  be  worn  at  the  fore  royal  masthead  and  in  boats,  etc. 
The  salute  for  the  vice  admiral's  flag  is  fifteen  guns. 

5.  For  Rear  Admirals.     A  plain  blue  flag  with  two  white,  five 
pointed  stars  placed  vertically.     But  if  two  or  more  rear  ad- 
mirals in  command  afloat,  should  meet,  or  be  in  the  presence  of 
each  other,  the  senior  only  was  to  wear  the  blue  flag,  the  next 
in  seniority  was  to  wear  a  red  flag  with  white  stars,  and  the 
other,  or  all  others  were  to  wear  a  white  flag  with  blue  stars. 

The  rear  admiral's  flag  is  always  hoisted  at  the  mizzen  royal 


1  On  the  death  of  Admiral  Farragut,  Aug.  15,  1870,  Vice  Admiral  D.  D.  Porter, 
was  commissioned  an  admiral,  and  Rear-Admiral  S.  C.  Rowan,  vice  admiral. 


PL.   XI 


DISTINCTIVE     FLAGS    U.S.  NAVY. 


PENNANTS 
OF  SQUADRONS    &    DIVISIONS.  -1869.  -72 


7866-    7872 

To  be.  worn,  ty  S(fuadroi^orDiyiswital  Conunandej-s  who  au-e  )iot> 
enMetito  wear  a,  P&uianb  of /uglier  significations. 


UARD  OR  GUIDE  FLAG 


Wen  at  the  fore- ~ 

*rTlic  vessel  wearing  fa 
Tag  of  fa  Senior  0/fiatr  is 
ways  Ou  Guide  unless  some- 


DESPATCH  FLAG. 


CORNET 


QUARANTINE  FLAG. 


'a  or  from  a.  Ct»nnifuuter 
in,&Uff. 


atul  officers 


Worn  by  vessels  wJieit- 
iii.0uareui 
tHtercour*  w 


CHURCH    PENNANT  . 


EouttxL  at>  tit*,  petik.  abort- the.  Ensign, 
duruig  J)inne  Service. 


GENERAL      RECALL. 


Of 'alLVetselt  orJloak  sent  i/t  C/iase 

or  on  Service  Iiaiflspel  wJwe  bestee&t- 
Jrom,  ethe 


BUFFORD'S  LITH.  BOSTON. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  467 

masthead  and  in  the  bows  of  boats,  etc.,  and  is  entitled  to  a 
salute  of  thirteen  guns. 

6.  For  Commodores.     The  designating  flag  was  a  blue,  swallow 
tailed,  broad  pendant  with  one  white  star,  to  be  worn  at  the  main 
of  his  ship  and  in  the  bow  of  his  boat,  when  in  command  of  a 
squadron,  or  of  a  single  ship  other  than  the  flag  ship  of  the  ad- 
miral   commanding   the    fleet.     When  in  command    of  naval 
stations  it  was  to  be  worn  on  board  the  receiving  ship,  or  if 
there  was  no  such  vessel,  then  at  the  usual  place  at  the  navy 
yard  for  displaying  a  flag. 

When  two  or  more  commodores  met,  the  superior  in  rank 
to  wear  the  blue,  the  next  the  red,  and  the  other  or  others 
a  white  pendant,  the  same  in  order  as  prescribed  for  rear 
admiral's  flags.  The  salute  of  a  commodore,  which  had  been 
thirteen  guns,  was  by  these  regulations  reduced,  in  consequence 
of  the  introduction  of  the  higher  grades,  and  to  conform  to  the 
custom  of  foreign  navies,  to  eleven  guns.  The  commodores' 
broad  pendant  was  required  to  be  swallow  tailed,  the  angular 
point  to  fall  on  a  line  drawn  at  a  right  angle  with  the  hoist,  or 
head  from  its  middle,  and  at  a  distance  from  the  head  of  three 
fifths  the  whole  length  of  the  pendant.  The  lower  side  of  the 
pendant  to  be  rectangular  with  the  hoist  or  head  ;  but  on  the 
contrary  the  upper  side  to  be  sloped,  so  as  to  narrow  the  pendant 
across  at  the  extremity  of  the  tail,  one  tenth  of  the  measure  of 
the  hoist,  and  thus  render  the  upper  tail  correspondingly  shorter 
than  the  lower  one. 

7.  For  Commanders  of  Divisions,  Commanders  of  Squadrons  of  Di- 
visions, and  Senior  Officers  present.     The  flags  or  pendants  were 
all  triangular  in  shape,  and  were  to  be  worn  by  officers  below  the 
rank  of  a  commodore  at  the  main  royal  masthead  (alongside  the 
narrow  pendant  distinctive  of  their  rank),  when  in  command  of  a 
division  and  more  than  one  ship,  but  were  not  to  be  worn  in  the 
bows  of  boats.     (Plate  xi). 

The  triangular  pendant  of  the  commanders  of  divisions  were, 
for  the  ist  division,  blue  ;  2d,  red  ;  3d,  white  and  red  vertical. 
The  senior  officer's  flag  white  and  blue  vertical.  In  1869, 
these  flags  were  reversed  thus  :  The  pendant  of  the  commander 
of  the  ist  division,  all  red,  of  the  2d  white,  red  perpendicular, 
of  the  3d,  all  blue,  and  the  guard  flag,  white  with  a  red  saltier, 
the  senior  officer's  flag.  (See  Plate  xi). 

The  flags  of  the  commanders  of  the  first  seven  squadrons  of 
'divisions  had  the  middle  part  of  a  different  color  from  the  rest, 
in  the  form  of  a  wedge,  the  base  occupying  one-third  of  the  hoist 
or  head,  and  the  point  extending  to  the  extremity  of  the  flag. 

The  flag  of  the  first  squadron  of  division  was  blue  —  white  — 
blue  ;  2d,  red  —  white  —  red  >  3d,  white  — blue — white  ;  4th, 


463  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

white — red  —  white  ;  5th,  white  —  yellow  —  white  ;  6th,  red  — 
white  —  blue  ;  yth,  white  —  blue  —  red.  The  flag  of  the  8th 
squadron  of  division  was  yellow  and  blue  vertical ;  the  gth 
white  and  yellow  vertical,  and  the  flag  of  the  reserve  squadron 
blue  and  yellow  vertical.  (Plate  xi). 

No  divisional  commander  was  to  wear  a  distinctive  mark 
when  separated  singly  from  the  squadron  or  station  to  which 
he  belonged  and  no  officer  wearing  such  a  distinctive  mark,  or 
that  of  a  senior  officer  present,  was  in  consequence  thereof  to 
assume  any  additional  title  or  allow  himself  to  be  addressed  by 
any  other  than  his  commission  allowed,  nor  was  he  to  permit 
his  vessel  to  be  called  a  flag  ship. 

8.  The  pendant  for  a  commanding  officer  of  a  single  vessel  when 
of  lower  rank  than  commodore.  Captains,  commanders,  and  other 
line  officers  of  inferior  rank,  when  actually  in  command  of  a 
vessel  of  war,  were  required  to  wear  the  narrow  or  coach  whip 
pendant  at  the  main  royal  masthead  of  their  vessel,  and  in  the 
bow  of  the  boat  in  which  they  embarked. 

This  pendant  was  to  be  regarded  not  as  an  emblem  of  rank, 
but  as  significant  of  command  and  that  their  vessel  was  of  a  public 
character.  This  narrow  pendant  was  to  have  the  union  part 
composed  of  thirteen  white  stars  in  a  horizontal  line  on  a  blue 
field,  one-fourth  of  the  length  of  the  pendant.  The  remaining 
three-fourths  of  its  length  was  to  be  of  a  red  and  white  stripe 
each  of  the  same  breadth  at  any  part  of  the  taper,  and  with  the 
red  uppermost.  The  number  of  stars  in  the  union  of  night  and 
boat  pendants  was  to  be  confined  to  seven. 

The  flags  of  commanders  of  divisions,  of  squadrons  of 
divisions,  of  a  senior  officer  present,  and  the  narrow  pendant  of 
other  commanding  officers,  were  not  entitled  to  a  salute ;  but 
when  these  officers  saluted  an  officer  of  a  superior  rank,  they  were 
to  receive,  if  a  captain,  a  return  salute  of  nine  guns,  and  if  of  less 
rank,  a  return  salute  of  seven  guns. 

The  return  salute  of  officers  holding  equal  rank  is  always 
gun  for  gun.  No  vessel  of  the  navy,  mounting  less  than  six 
guns,  and  no  store  ship  or  transport  is  allowed  to  salute.  If  ne- 
cessary to  avoid  giving  offence,  such  vessel  may  fire  a  return  salute. 
No  surveying  vessel  is  ever  to  fire,  or  return  a  salute. 

In  addition  to  these  flags,  distinctive  of  rank  and  command, 
the  regulations  of  1866  provided  several  for  general  purposes, 
viz.  :  (Plate  xi). 

1.  A  Convoy  Flag.     A   white,  triangular   flag,  bordered   with 
red,  to  be  worn  by  vessels  of  war  when  convoying  merchant  or 
other  vessels. 

2.  A  Pilot  Flag.     The  union  jack  bordered  with  red,  hoisted 
at  the  fore,  to  denote  a  pilot  wanted. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  459 

3.  A    Compass  Flag.     This  was  a  square  flag   divided  into 
four   squares    or  cantons,    blue,  yellow,    white,   red.     To  be 
hoisted  over  the  numeral  flags  of  the  signal  code  representing 
the  points  of  the  compass. 

4.  A  Guard  Flag.     A  white  flag  with  a  red  St.  Andrew's  cross 
hoisted  at  the  fore,  to  indicate  the  vessel  charged  with  guard  duty 
for  the  day,  whose   duty  it  is  to  board  all  vessels  approaching 
and   ascertain    their   character  before  allowing   communication 
with  them.     (Plate  xi). 

5.  A  Guide  or  Pivot  Flag.     A  square  flag  composed  of  five 
perpendicular  stripes,  red  and  white.     To  designate  any  steam 
vessel  of  a  fleet  or  squadron,  etc.,  as  a  guide  or  pivot  ship  in  the 
performance  of  any  naval  evolution.     In   1869,  this  flag  was 
dispensed  with.     The  guard  flag  was  made  to  answer  the  pur- 
pose of  a  guide  flag.     (Plate  xi). 

6.  A  Dispatch  Flag.    A  white,  square  flag  with  five  blue  crosses 
generally  known  as  the  five  of  clubs;  hoisted  forward,  this  flag 
denoted  important  and  urgent   special  service,  which   must  not 
be  interfered   with  by  any  officer  junior  to  the  one  by  whom 
it  was  dispatched.     (Plate  xi). 

7.  A  Powder  Flag.     A  plain  red  flag  hoisted  at  the  fore  denot- 
ing the  vessel  is  taking  in  or  discharging  powder. 

8.  A  Quarantine  Flag".     A  plain  yellow  flag,  also  worn  at  the 
fore  by  vessels  in  quarantine  and  waiting  pratique,  denoting  all 
intercourse  with  the  vessel  is  forbidden.     (Plate  xi). 

9.  A  Church   Pendant.     A  white   pendant,  without   swallow 
tails  charged  with  a  blue  Latin  cross,  to  be  hoisted  at  the  peak, 
during   divine  service,  over  the  ensign.     The  only  flag   to  which 
the  national  ensign  shows  such  submission.     (Plate  xi). 

10.  A  General  Recall  Flag.     A  blue,  square  flag  with  a  white 
Latin  cross  dividing  it  into  four  equal  parts.     When  hoisted  by 
the  commander-in-chief,  or  senior  officer  present,  it  is  to  be  con- 
sidered a  peremptory  order  for  all  vessels  or  boats  sent  in  chase,  or 
engaged  in  other  duty  of  whatever  nature,  to  return  at  once  to 
their  vessels,  duty   or  station,   unless  they  shall   have  been  pre- 
viously specially  ordered  to  disregard  the  signal.  The  general  recall 
is  not  hauled  down  until  all  the  vessels  or  boats  obey  the  signal. 

11.  The  Cornet.     Long  used  in  the  navy  and  still  continued 
as  the   ordinary  recall  of  all  boats  and   officers,  and  as  a  signal 
for  sailing.      This  is  a  square  flag  divided  into  four  equal  squares 
of  alternate  red  and  white  and  when   hoisted  anywhere,  with- 
out other  flags,  is  to  be  considered  a  peremptory  order  for  all  ab- 
sent boats  and  officers  to  return  on  board  without  delay.     When 
hoisted  above  or  over  the  numeral  flags  of  the  signal  code,  it  de- 
notes  those  numerals   are  the   ship's  book  number,  opposite  to 
which  in  navy  list  in  the  signal  is  the  ship's  name.     The  cornet 
hoisted  at  any  part  of  a  vessel,  with  numeral  flags  at  a  different 


470  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

part  of  the  ship,  indicates  that  those  numbers  are  to  be  sought  for 
in  the  telegraphic  dictionary,  and  that  the  signal  will  be  communi- 
cated word  by  word  or  letter  by  letter.  The  cornet  under  signal 
numbers  indicates  that  they  represent  the  private  number  of 
a  ship. 

In  addition  to  these  distinctive  flags  the  naval  signal  code  pro- 
vides pendants  to  designate  shipping,  squadron,  boat  recalls,  meal 
time,  etc.,  etc.,  also  ten  numeral  flags  and  three  repeating  pendants, 
for  telegraphic  purposes.  As  a  whole  this  was,  perhaps,  the  most 
systematic,  complete,  and  best  code  of  distinctive,  general,  and  tele- 
graphic flags  the  navy  had  known  ;  but  with  a  change  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  bureau  came  a  radical  change  in  the  distinctive 
flags. 

At  a  considerable  sacrifice  of  beauty,  and  time  honored  asso- 
ciations, the  following  order  was  promulgated,  changing  the  blue 
at  the  main  to  a  bit  of  striped  bunting.  Restoring  the  national 
ensign  to  the  main,  in  the  place  of  the  jack,  was,  however,  a 
move  in  the  right  direction. 

"  Bureau  of  Navigation,  Navy  Department, 

"Washington,  Dec.  31,  1869. 

"  Sir  :  By  direction  of  the  secretary  of  the  navy  the  following 
instructions  are  promulgated  : 

"  When  the  president  shall  visit  a  ship  of  war  of  the  United 
States,  the  ensign  shall  be  hoisted  at  the  main,  when  coming  on 
board,  and  hauled  down  at  his  departure  It  is  also  to  be  hoisted 
in  the  bow  of  the  boat  in  which  he  embarks. 

"  When  the  secretary  of  the  navy  shall  visit  a  ship  of  war  of 
the  United  States,  the  union  jack  shall  be  hoisted  at  the  main, 
and  in  the  bow  of  the  boat  in  which  he  embarks. 

"As  the  jack  is  taken  from  the  union  of  the  ensign,  in  order  to 
utilize  the  latter  still  further,  the  stripes  will  compose  the  flag  of 
flag  officers,  and  the  broad  pendants  of  commanders,  made  in 
the  usual  shape  and  size  according  to  the  designs  in  the  new 
signal  book.  (See  plate  x). 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
"JAMES  ALDEN, 

"  Chief  of  Bureau. 

"To  Officers  Commanding  Squadrons" 


By  another  circular  order,  addressed  to  commandants  of  naval 
stations,  dated  Dec.  23d,  1869,  they  were  directed  to  furnish 
the  new  naval  signal  book  to  each  of  the  vessels  in  commission 
at  their  station,  prior  to  the  ist  of  Jan.,  1870,  when  the  book 
was  to  be  put  into  use  and  the  new  distinguishing  flags  and 
pendants  prescribed  therein  were  to  be  hoisted. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


471 


The  following  table  shows  the  proportions  and  dimensions  of 
the  national  ensigns,  union  jacks,  and  distinctive  flags  prescribed 
for  the  United  States  navy. 


M      M      M      M      M 
4*    1>J      fcl      "•*      O    VO      OO^-l      O\^T«    -^   UJ      *0      M 

Number. 

t>  ui  Ui  4^  <*n    O\^l    OO  O    w  W  -F*    OVO    Jjl 

Hoist 

1^1    ta-^1    tJ    to  cjj  4>.  4*    O    Obi    oovo    O    5. 
O    O    O    O    ooi>»    OOOOOOOO' 

WH«l-«H<l-l*JiaHUiUi.^ 

^n    ^^    OO  O    fc>  4^    OvO    b»  <^n    OO  fcl    ON  ~ 

Whole  length,  or 

W 

88888888888888? 

fly. 

1 

t»    t*     |0  (^>    4^   -f^  t  >a     (^~<I     OOQ    M     fc>4*     Kq 

O  4>-   oo  i>   O   oo  b\  4*.  c\  oo  b   tJ   0041.   55 
00000000000000? 

bd    td    tt    »    M 

Length  of  union. 

oooooooo 

;      ^ijJjJi^^-^^X 
.      "-"^Oi-nOtJOOtiii 

Hoist. 

25 

m 

•      .                   •      • 

b»    to  u->  4>.  i-ri  -j 

Whole  length,  or 

1 

T3 

;;;     1:88888888^ 

fly. 

a 

3 

:    :    ;        '.    '.    «  t>  ui  o^j  o  i*»  ^i  K« 

1 

•  *^itjbbjv^ib~~j^tji 

Length  of  union. 

:    4*  4».  en   CT\--I   oovo   o   Jj3 

Hoist. 

V 
o 

Whole  length,  or 

r 

:    :    :    :    :    :    oooooooo  • 

fly. 

3? 

;     OUt^iaobbtaS 

Hoist. 

t>          |  tt 

1          ~l 

;    ;    '.    '.    '.    '.  <-n  0^1  oo  o  M  w  -f^.  ^ 

Whole  length,  or 

1         11 

»  3s 

fly. 

II 

O    O 

0000000^ 

Hoist. 

O           *»  »h 

O                    co     o 

•§  1 

3               wo 

'.      '       1       '.      •      tCrtO>OOOb>-f'^OOp^ 

:    I    '    b  b  b  b  b  b  b  b  j; 
::::::    o  o  o  o  o  o  o  o  ? 

Whole  length,  or 
fly. 

o             ft-Q 

0-                 g    eo 

p   "1 

i  i  !  i  ;  !  i  i  !  !  8888? 

Hoist. 

o 

ts  »>  2.  a  j*>  5' 
3       o  g  8  ST. 

S    «    g    3    0    9 

S  2.-    S-.3J&. 

r^-^s  ^ 

I  ill  1  1  i  1.  11  s?^? 

Whole  length,  01 
fly. 

S,2-^"  3 
31       B:  o   »> 

0    !?>  <    3    CL 

K  ffrf.V 

By  the  existing  regulation  of  1870  the  distinctive  flags  are 
as  follows : 

ist.  For  the  President.  The  national  ensign  at  the  main,  so 
long  as  he  remains  on  board  a  vessel  of  war. 


472  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

2d.  For  the  Vice  President.  When  received  on  board  a  vessel 
of  the  navy,  in  a  foreign  port,  the  national  ensign  at  the  fore. 

3d.  For  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy.  The  union  jack  hoisted 
at  the  main  so  long  as  he  remains  on  board  a  vessel  of  the  navy. 
(Plate  x). 

4th.  For  Admirals,  Vice  Admirals  and  Rear  Admirals.  A  flag  of 
thirteen  plain,  horizontal  stripes,  alternate  red  and  white.  Worn 
at  the  main  by  an  admiral,  at  the  fore  by  a  vice  admiral,  and  at  the 
mizzen  by  a  rear  admiral.  The  vice  admiral's  boat  flag  to  have 
a  single  red  star  in  a  white  square  at  the  luff  of  the  second  red 
stripe.  The  rear  admiral's  boat  flag  to  have  two  red  stars  per- 
pendicular in  the  luff  at  the  2d  and  3d  red  stripes.  The  same 
distinction  to  be  borne  by  a  junior  or  juniors  at  the  mizzen, 
when  more  than  one  rear  admiral  is  present ;  a  rear  admiral  is 
to  hoist  the  same  flag  at  the  fore  if  sailing  in  a  two  masted  vessel. 
(Plate  x). 

4.  The  Broad  Pendant  of  a  Commodore.  The  same  striped 
flag,  the  end  or  fly  of  it  swallow  tailed,  and  worn  at  the  main. 
Should  more  then  one  commodore  be  present  the  junior  is  to 
hoist  his  pendant  at  the  fore.  Senior  off cers present,  below  the  rank 
of  commodore,  hoist  a  smaller  broad  pendant  of  the  same  kind, 
at  the  mizzen.  (See  plate  x). 

The  present  striped  flags  for  admirals,  and  pendants  for  com- 
modores, have  not  been  received  with  favor  by  the  officers  most 
interested  and  there  is  a  universally  expressed  wish  and  hope  en- 
tertained, by  officers  of  all  grades,  that  the  time  honored  blue 
and  red  which  is  associated  with  so  many  of  our  naval  triumphs 
may  be  restored. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  473 


FLAGS,  COLORS,  STANDARDS,  GUIDONS  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES  ARMY. 

Prescribed  by  the  Army  Rules  and  Regulations,  1872. 

Garrison  Flag*  —  The  garrison  flag  is  the  national  flag.  It  is 
made  of  bunting,  thirty-six  feet  fly  and  twenty  feet  hoistf  in 
thirteen  horizontal  stripes  of  equal  breadth,  alternately  red  and 
white,  beginning  with  the  red.  In  the  upper  quarter,  next  the 
staff,  is  the  union  composed  of  a  number  of  white  stars,  equal 
to  the  number  of  states,  on  a  blue  field,  one-third  the  length  of 
the  flag,  extending  to  the  lower  edge  of  the  fourth  red  stripe  from 
the  top.  The  storm  flag  is  twenty  feet  by  ten  feet ;  the  recruit- 
ing flag,  nine  feet  nine  inches  by  four  feet  four  inches. 

Colors  of  Artillery  Regiments.  —  Each  regiment  of  artillery 
shall  have  two  silken  colors.  The  first,  or  the  national  color, 
of  stars  and  stripes,  as  described  for  the  garrison  flag.  The  num- 
ber and  name  of  the  regiment  is  to  be  embroidered  with  gold  on 
the  centre  stripe.  The  second,  or  regimental  color,  to  be  yellow, 
of  the  same  dimensions  as  the  first,  bearing  in  the  centre  two  can- 
non crossing,  with  the  letters  U.  S.  above,  and  the  number  of 
the  regiment  below ;  fringe,  yellow.  Each  color  to  be  six  feet 
six  inches  fly,  and  six  feet  deep  on  the  pike.  The  pike,  includ- 
ing the  spear  and  ferrule,  to  be  nine  feet  ten  inches  in  length. 
Cord  and  tassels,  red  and  yellow  silk  intermixed. 

Colors  of  Infantry  Regiments.  —  Each  regiment  of  infantry  shall 
have  two  silken  colors.  The  first,  or  the  national  color,  of  stars 
and  stripes,  as  described  for  the  garrison  flag  ;  the  number  and 
name  of  the  regiment  to  be  embroidered  with  silver  on  the  cen- 
tre stripe.  The  second,  or  regimental  color,  to  be  blue,  with 
the  arms  of  the  United  States  embroidered  in  silk  on  the  centre. 
The  name  of  the  regiment  in  a  scroll  underneath  the  eagle. 
The  size  of  each  color  is  to  be  six  feet  six  inches  fly,  and  six  feet 
deep  on  the  pike.  The  length  of  the  pike,  including  the  spear 
and  ferrule,  to  be  nine  feet  ten  inches.  The  fringe  yellow  ; 
cords  and  tassels  blue  and  white  silk  intermixed. 

Camp  Colors.  —  The  camp  colors  are  of  bunting,  eighteen 
inches  square  ;  white  for  infantry,  and  red  for  artillery,  with  the 
number  of  the  regiment  on  them.  The  pole  eight  feet  long. 

Standards  and  Guidons  of  Mounted  Regiments.  —  Each  regiment 
will  have  a  silken  standard,  and  each  company  a  silken  guidon. 
60 


474  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

The  standard  to  bear  the  arms  of  the  United  States,  embroidered 
in  silk,  on  a  blue  ground,  with  the  number  and  name  of  the  reg- 
iment, in  a  scroll  underneath  the  eagle.  The  flag  of  the  stand- 
ard to  be  two  feet  five  inches  wide,  and  two  feet  three  inches 
on  the  lance,  and  to  be  edged  with  yellow  silk  fringe. 

The  flag  of  the  guidon  is  swallow-tailed,  three  feet  five  inches 
from  the  lance  to  the  end  of  the  swallow-tail ;  fifteen  inches  to 
the  fork  of  the  swallow-tail,  and  two  feet  three  inches  on  the 
lance.  To  be  half  red  and  half  white,  dividing  at  the  fork,  the 
red  above.  On  the  red,  the  letters  U.  S.  in  white ;  and  on  the 
white  the  letter  of  the  company  in  red.  The  lance  of  the  stand- 
ards and  guidons  to  be  nine  feet  long,  including  spear  and  ferrule. 

Colors  of  the  Engineer  Battalion.  — "  The  flags  of  the  engineer 
battalion  will  be  as  follows  :  The  national  color  as  described 
for  the  garrison  flag,  with  the  words  'United  States  engineers' 
embroidered  in  silver  in  the  centre.  The  battalion  color  will  be 
of  scarlet,  of  the  same  dimensions  as  above,  bearing  in  the  cen- 
tre a  castle  with  the  letters  U.  S.  above  and  the  word  Engineers 
below  in  silver.  Fringe  white.  The  size  of  each  color  and  the 
length  of  the  pike  the  same  as  described  for  colors  for  artillery 
and  infantry  regiments.  Cords  and  tassels  red  and  white  silk 
intermixed." 

Corps  Badges. —  Under  the  following  resolution  of  congress 
permission  is  given  to  all  officers  and  soldiers  who  served  during 
the  rebellion  to  wear  the  badge  of  the  corps  in  which  they  served. 


[I.  PUBLIC  RESOLUTION  —  No.  55.] 

A  resolution  granting  permission  to  officers  and  soldiers  to  wear 
the  badge  of  the  corps  in  which  they  served  during  the  re- 
bellion. 

Resolved  by  the  senate  and  house  of  representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America  in  congress  assembled,  That  all  who 
served  as  officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  privates,  or  other 
enlisted  men  in  the  regular  army,  volunteer,  or  militia  forces  of 
the  United  States,  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and  have 
been  honorably  discharged  from  the  service  or  remain  still  in  the 
same,  shall  be  entitled  to  wear,  on  occasions  of  ceremony,  the 
distinctive  army  badge  ordered  for  and  adopted  by  the  army 
corps  and  division,  respectively,  in  which  they  served. 

Approved  July  25,  1868. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  475 


THE   SEAL    AND   ARMS    OF   THE   UNITED    STATES  OF 

AMERICA. 

It  appears  from  the  journals  of  congress  that  Doctor  Franklin, 
Mr.  John  Adams,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Jefferson  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  prepare  a  device  for  a  great  seal  for  the  United 
States  of  America,  July  4th,  1 776.  This,  it  will  be  observed,  was 
the  very  day  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  On  the  loth 
of  August  this  committee  reported  a  device,  with  an  explanation 
thereof,  which  was  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table.  The  following 
is  a  copy  of  their  report. 

"  The  great  seal  should  on  one  side  have  the  arms  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  which  arms  should  be  as  follows  : 

"  The  shield  has  six  quarters,  parts  one  coupe  two.  The  first 
or,  a  rose,  enamelled  gules  and  argent  for  England.  The  2d 
argent,  a  thistle  proper  for  Scotland,  the  3d  vert,  a  harp  or,  for 
Ireland,  the  4th  azure,  a  flower  de  luce  for  France,  the  fth  or, 
the  imperial  eagle,  sable,  for  Germany,  and  the  6th  or,  the 
Belgie  lion,  gules,  for  Holland,  pointing  out  the  countries  from 
which  the  states  have  been  peopled.  The  shield  within  a  bor- 
der, gules,  entwined  of  thirteen  escutcheons,  argent,  linked  to- 
gether by  a  chain  or,  each  charged  with  initial  sable  letters  as 
follows,  ist  N.  H.  ,•  2d  Mass. ;  3d  R.  I. ;  4th  Conn. ;  5th  N.  Y. ; 
6th  N.  J.  ;  7th  Penn.  ;  8th  Del.  ;  Qth  Md.  ;  loth  Va.  ;  nth 
N.  C. ;  1 2th  S.  C.  ;  1 3th  Geo.  j  for  each  of  the  thirteen  indepen- 
dent states  of  America. 

"  SUPPORTERS,  dexter  the  Goddess  of  Liberty  in  a  corselet  of 
armor.  Alluding  to  the  present  times  ;  holding  in  her  right 
hand  the  spear  and  cap,  and  with  her  left  supporting  the  shield 
of  the  states  ;  sinister  the  Goddess  of  Justice  bearing  a  sword  in 
her  right  hand,  and  in  her  left  a  balance. 

"  CREST.  The  eye  of  Providence  in  a  radiant  triangle  whose 
glory  extends  over  the  shield  and  beyond  the  figures.  Motto, 
E.  Pluribus  Unum. 

"  Legend  round  the  whole  achievement,  Seal  of  the  United 
States  of  America  MDCCLXXVI. 

"  On  the  other  side  of  the  said  great  seal  should  be  the  follow- 
ing device  : 

"  Pharaoh  sitting  in  an  open  chariot,  a  crown  on  his  head,  and 
a  sword  in  his  hand,  passing  through  the  divided  waters  of  the 
Red  sea,  in  pursuit  of  the  Israelites.  Rays  from  a  pillar  of  fire 
in  the  cloud,  expressive  of  the  Divine  presence  and  command, 


476  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

beaming  on  Moses,  who  stands  on  the  shore,  and  extending  his 
hand  over  the  sea,  causes  it  to  overthrow  Pharaoh. 

"Motto,  'Rebellion  to  tyrants  is  obedience  to   God'" 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1779,  it  was  ordered  that  the  report 
of  the  committee  on  the  device  of  a  great  seal  for  the  United 
States,  in  congress  assembled,  be  referred  to  a  committee  of 
three  and  Messrs.  Lovell,  Scott  and  Houston  were  appointed. 
On  the  roth  of  May  the  committee  reported  that: 

"The  seal  be  four  inches  in  diameter,  on  one  side  the  arms 
of  the  United  States  as  follows  :  the  shield  charged  in  the  field 
with  thirteen  diagonal  stripes  alternately  red  and  white. 

"  SUPPORTERS,  dexter,  a  warrior  holding  a  sword  :  sinister,  a 
figure  representing  Peace  bearing  an  olive  branch. 

"  THE  CREST  ;  a  radiant  constellation  of  thirteen  stars. 

"  THE  MOTTO  j  Belle  r el  pace. 

"  The  legend  round  the  achievement  '  Seal  of  the  United 
States.' 

"  ON  THE  REVERSE  ;  The  figure  of  Liberty,  seated  in  a  chair, 
holding  the  staff  and  cap. 

"  THE'  MOTTO  ;  Semper,  underneath  MDCCLXXVI." 

On  the  1 7th  of  May,  the  report  of  the  committees  on  the 
device  of  a  great  seal  was  taken  into  consideration  and  after  de- 
bate ordered  to  be  recommitted,  and  the  result  was  the  follow- 
ing report : 

"  The  seal  to  be  three  inches  in  diameter,  on  one  side  the 
arms  of  the  United  States,  as  follows  :  the  shield  charged  in  the 
field  azure,  with  thirteen  diagonal  stripes,  alternate  rouge  and 
argent. 

"  SUPPORTERS  j  dexter  a  warrior  holding  a  sword.  Sinister ;  a 
figure  representing  Peace,  bearing  the  olive  branch. 

"  THE  CREST  ;  a  radiant  constellation  of  thirteen  stars. 

"THE  MOTTO  ;  Belle  rel pace. 

"  THE  LEGEND  round  the  achievement.  The  Great  Seal  of  the 
United  States. 

"  On  the  REVERSE,Virtute  Perennis,  underneath  MDCCLXXVI." 

A  miniature  of  the  face  of  the  great  seal  and  half  its  diameter 
to  be  prepared  and  affixed  as  the  less  seal  of  the  United  States. 

June  13,  1782,  Mr.  Wm.  Barton  of  Philadelphia  proposed 
the  following : 

"  Device  for  an  armorial  achievement  for  the  United  States 
of  North  America,  blazoned  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  heraldry, 
proposed  by  Mr.  Barton,  A.M. 

ARMS.  Paleways  of  thirteen  pieces  argent  and  gules  :  a  chief 
azure,  the  escutcheon  placed  on  the  breast  of  the  American  (the 
bald  headed),  eagle,  displayed  proper  ;  holding  in  his  beak  a  scroll 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  477 

inscribed  with  the  motto,  viz.  :  c  E  Pluribus  Unum  '  and  in  his 
dexter  talon  a  palm  or  olive  branch  in  the  other  a  bundle  of 
thirteen  arrows,  all  proper.1 

"FoR  THE  CREST.  Over  the  head  of  the  eagle  which  appears 
above  the  escutcheon,  a  glory,  or,  breaking  through  a  cloud, 
proper,  and  surrounding  thirteen  stars  forming  a  constellation, 
argent  on  an  azure  field. 

"In  the  exerque  of  the  great  seal. 

Jul.  iv,  MDCCLXXVI. 

"  In  the  margin  of  the  same. 

"  Sigil,  Mag.  Repub.  Confad.  Americ." 

Mr.  Barton  thus  indicated  the  meaning  of  his  devices  :  "  The 
escutcheon  is  composed  of  the  chief,  and  pale,  the  two  most 
honorable  ordinaries  ;  the  latter  represents  the  several  states,  all 
joined  in  one  solid,  compact  entire,  supporting  a  chief,  which 
unites  the  whole,  and  represents  congress.  The  motto  alludes 
to  the  union  ;  the  colors  or  tinctures  of  the  pales  are  those  used  in 
the  flag  of  the  United  States.  White  signifies  purity  and  inno- 
cence :  red,  hardiness,  valor  ;  the  chief  denotes  congress ;  blue  is 
the  ground  of  the  American  uniform,  and  the  color  signifies  vigi- 
lance, perseverance  and  justice. 

"  The  meaning  of  the  crest  is  obvious,  as  is  likewise  that  of 
the  olive  branch  and  arrows.  The  escutcheon  being  placed  on 
the  breast  of  the  eagle,  is  a  very  ancient  mode  of  bearing  and 
is  truly  imperial,  The  eagle  displayed,  is  another  heraldric 
figure  ;  and  being  borne  in  the  manner  here  described,  supplies 
the  place  of  supporters  and  crest.  The  American  states  need 
no  supporters  but  their  own  virtue,  and  the  preservation  of  their 
union  through  congress.  The  pales  in  the  arms  are  kept  closely 
united  by  the  chief,  which  last,  likewise,  depends  on  that  union, 
and  strength  resulting  from  it  for  its  own  support,  the  inference 
is  plain." 

Another  device  proposed  by  Mr.  Barton,  agreeably  to  the 
rules  of  heraldry,  was  as  follows. 

"  ARMS.  Barry  of  thirteen  pieces,  argent  and  gules,  on  a  can- 
ton azure,  and  many  stars  disposed  in  a  circle  of  the  first  j  a 
pale  or,  surmounted  of  another  of  the  third  ;  charged  in  chief 
with  an  eye  surrounded  with  a  glory  proper,  and  in  the  fess 
point,  an  eagle  displayed  on  the  summit  of  a  Doric  column, 
which  rests  on  the  base  of  the  escutcheon,  both  as  the  stars. 


1  As  the  paler  or  pallets  consist  of  an  uneven  number,  they  ought  in  strictness  to 
be  blazoned  j  argent  6  pallets  gules  ,  but  as  the  thirteen  pieces  allude  to  the  thirteen 
states,  they  are  blazoned  according  to  the  number  of  pieces  pale-ways. 


478  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

u  CREST.  Or,  a  helmet  of  burnished  gold  damasked,  grated 
with  six  bars,  and  surmounted  by  a  cap  of  liberty,  gules,  turned 
up  ermine,  a  cock  armed  with  gaffs  proper. 

44  SUPPORTERS.  On  the  dexter  side,  the  genius  of  America 
(represented  by  a  maiden  with  loose  auburn  tresses),  having 
on  her  head  a  radiated  crown  of  gold,  encircled  with  a  sky  blue 
fillet,  spangled  with  silver  stars,  and  clothed  in  a  long  loose 
white  garment,  bordered  with  green.  From  her  right  shoulder 
to  her  left  side  a  scarf,  semee  of  stars,  the  tinctures  thereof  the 
same  as  in  the  canton  ;  and  round  her  waist  a  purple  girdle, 
fringed  or  embroidered  argent,  with  the  word  '  Virtue,'  resting 
her  interior  hand  on  the  escutcheon,  and  holding  in  the  other 
the  proper  *  Standard  of  the  United  States ,'  having  a  dove  ar- 
gent, perched  on  the  top  of  it. 

"  On  the  sinister  side  ;  a  man  in  complete  armor,  his  sword 
belt  azure,  fringed  with  gold,  his  helmet  encircled  with  a  laurel 
wreath,  and  crested  with  one  white  and  blue  plume  ;  supporting 
with  his  dexter  hand  the  escutcheon,  and  holding  in  the  interior 
a  lance,  with  the  point  sanguinated,  and  upon  it  a  banner,  dis- 
played, vest  in  the  fess  point ;  a  harp  strung  with  silver,  between 
a  star  in  chief,  two  fleur-de-lis  in  fess,  and  a  pair  of  swords  in  sal- 
tier in  basses,  all  argent.  The  tenants  of  the  escutcheon  stand 
on  a  scroll  on  which  is  the  following  motto : 
4  Deo  Favente' 

which  alludes  to  the  eye  in  the  arms,  meant  for  the  eye  of  Provi- 
dence. 

"  Over  the  crest,  on  a  scroll,  this  motto  : 

4  Virtus  sola  invicta.' 

which  required  no  comment. 

44  The  thirteen  pieces  barways,  which  fill  up  the  field  of  the  arms, 
may  represent  the  several  states;  and  the  same  number  of  stars, 
upon  a  blue  canton  disposed  in  a  circle,  represent  a  new  con- 
stellation, which  alludes  to  the  new  empire  formed  in  the  world 
by  the  confederation  of  those  states.  Their  disposition  in  a  cir- 
cle denotes  the  perpetuity  of  its  continuance,  the  ring  being  the 
symbol  of  eternity.  The  eagle  displayed,  is  the  symbol  of  su- 
preme power  and  authority,  and  signifies  the  congress  ;  the  pillar 
upon  which  it  rests  is  used  as  the  hieroglyphic  of  fortitude  and 
constancy,  and  its  being  of  the  Doric  order  (which  is  the  best 
proportioned  and  most  agreeable  to  nature),  and  composed  of  seve- 
ral members,  or  parts,  all  taken  together  forming  a  beautiful  com- 
position of  strength,  congruity,  and  usefulness,  it  may  with  great 
propriety  signify  a  well  planned  government.  The  eagle  being 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  479 

placed  on  the  summit  of  the  columns,  is  emblematical  of  the 
sovereignty  of  the  government  of  the  United  States:  and  as 
further  expressive  of  that  idea,  those  two  charges,  or,  five  and  six 
azure,  are  borne  in  a  pale  which  extends  across  the  thirteen 
pieces  into  which  the  escutcheon  is  divided.  The  signification 
of  the  eye  has  been  already  explained.  The  helmet  is  such  as 
appertains  to  sovereignty  and  the  cap  is  used  as  the  token  of  fre- 
dom  and  excellency.  It  was  formerly  worn  by  dukes  :  says 
Guillien,  they  had  d  more  worthy  government  than  other  subjects. 
The  cock  is  distinguished  for  two  most  excellent  qualities,  viz : 
vigilance  and  fortitude.  The  genius  of  the  American  confede- 
rated republic  is  denoted  by  the  blue  scarf  and  fillet,  glittering 
with  stars,  and  by  the  flag  of  congress  which  she  displays.  Her 
dress  is  white  edged  with  green,  emblematical  of  innocence  and 
truth.  Her  purple  girdle  and  radiated  crown,  indicate  her  sov- 
ereignty, the  word  '  virtue*  on  the  former,  is  to  show,  that  that 
should  be  her  principal  ornament,  and  the  radiated  crown,  that 
no  earthly  crown  should  rule  her.  The  dove  on  the  top  of  the 
American  standard,  denotes  the  mildnesss  and  purity  of  her 
government. 

"  The  knight  in  armor,  with  his  bloody  lance,  represents  the 
military  genius  of  the  American  empire,  armed  in  defense  of  its 
just  rights.  His  blue  belt  and  blue  feathers  indicate  his  country 
and  the  white  plume  is  in  compliment  to  our  gallant  ally.  The 
wreath  of  laurel  round  his  helmet  is  expressive  of  his  success. 

"  The  green  field  of  the  banner  denotes  youth  and  vigor ;  the 
harp T  [with  thirteen  strings,]  emblematical  of  the  several  states 
acting  in  harmony  and  concert,  the  star  in  chief  has  reference  to 
America,  as  principal  in  the  contest  the  two  fleur-de-lis  are 
borne  as  a  grateful 2  testimony  of  the  support  given  to  her  by 
France  and  the  two  swords  crossing  each  other,  signify  the  state 
of  war.  This  tenant  and  his  flag  relate  totally  to  America,  at 
the  time  of  her  revolution." 

June  13,  1782,  Messrs.  Middleton,  Boudinot  and  Rutledge 
reported  a  modification  of  Mr.  Barton's  devices  which  was  re- 
ferred to  the  secretary  of  the  United  States,  and  a  week  later, 
on  the  2Oth  of  June,  1782,  the  secretary  of  the  United  States, 
in  congress  assembled,  to  whom  was  referred  the  several  re- 

1  The  pen  is  run  through  the  words,  'with  thirteen  strings,  in  the  original. 

2  "  In  the  arms  of  Scotland  as  manifested  in  the  royal  achievement,  the  double 
treasure  which  surrounds  the  lion    is  borne  jiory  and  counter  Jiory  (with  jleur-de-lis) 
which  is  in   consequence   of  a    treaty   between  Charlemagne,  emperor  and  king  of 
France,  and  Achias  king  of  Scotland,  to  denote  that  the  French  lilies  should  guard  and 
defend  the  Scottish  lion." 


480  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

ports   of  committees  on   the   devices  of  a  great  seal  to  take 
order,  reported  the  following  device  which  was  adopted  as : 

THE  GREAT  SEAL  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

"  ARMS  —  Paleways  of  thirteen  pieces  argent  and  gules ;  a  chief 
azure ;  the  escutcheon  on  the  breast  of  the  American  eagle  displayed 
proper,  holding  in  his  dexter  talon  an  olive  branch,  and  in  his  sinis- 
ter a  bundle  of  thirteen  arrows,  all  proper ;  and  In  his  beak  a  scroll 
inscribed  with  this  motto  :  '  E  PLURIBUS  UNUM.' 

u  For  the  CREST  :  over  the  head  of  the  eagle  which  appears  above 
the  escutcheon,  a  glory  breaking  through  a  cloud  proper,  and  surround- 
ing thirteen  stars,  forming  a  constellation,  argent,  and  on  an  azure 
field. 

REVERSE. —  A  pyramid  unfinished.  In  the  zenith  an  eye  In  a 
triangle,  surrounded  with  a  glory,  proper ;  over  the  eye  these  words, 
ANNUIT  CJEPTIS.  On  the  base  of  the  pyramid  the  numerical  let- 
ters, MDCCLXXVI,  and  underneath,  the  following  motto  : 

'Novus  ORDO  SECLORUM.'X 

u  The  interpretation  of  these  devices  is  as  follows  :  The  escut- 
cheon is  composed  of  the  chief  and  pale,  the  two  most  honora- 
ble ordinaries.  The  pieces  pales  represent  the  several  states, 
all  joined  in  one  solid,  compact  entire  supporting  a  chief  which 
unites  the  whole  and  represents  congress.  The  pales  in  the  arms 
are  kept  closely  united  by  the  chief,  and  the  chief  depends  on 
that  union,  and  the  strength  resulting  from  it,  for  its  support,  to 
denote  the  confederacy  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and 
the  preservation  of  their  union  through  congress. 

"  The  colors  of  the  pales  and  those  used  in  the  flag  of  the 
United  States  of  America  ;  white  signifies  purity  and  innocence ; 


lMr.  Lukens  of  Philadelphia  in  a  letter  to  me  dated  Oct.  15,  1871,  says:  The 
armoristic  lapses  of  this  act  are  :  First.  The  omission  of  '  wings  elevated'  [or  tips  in 
chief,]  after  displayed,  as  the  bald  eagle  might  be  displayed  and  yet  have  the  wings 
'  inverted '  [or  tips  in  base.]  Second.  The  tincture  of  the  scroll  or  motto  ribbon, 
which  might  be  either  red,  or  blue,  and  yet  harmonize  with  the  tinctures  of  the  shields 
as  aims  is  omitted.  The  motto  itself  would  inevitably  be  gold  unless  otherwise 
mentioned.  Third.  Denominating  the  stars  over  the  head  of  the  eagle  a  *  crest.' 
They  are  instead  only  approximately  a  crest,  but  are  not  a  crest  except  through  great 
latitude  in  the  use  of  the  term,  because  they  could  not  be  tangibly  represented  as  in 
nature,  and  attached  to  the  top  of  a  helmet.  Theoretically  the  crest  must  be  some- 
thing possible  to  represent  in  apparent  solidity  in  carved  or  stamped  work  which 
being  affixable  to  the  helmet,  can  also  be  reasonably,  represented  as  resting  upon  the 
top  of  the  shield. 

Mr.  Luken's  interesting  letter  is  embellished  with  several  elegant  pen  drawings, 
and  I  regret  I  am  unable  to  reproduce  them  and  his  letter  in  full.  Correct  engrav- 
ings of  the  Great  Seal  of  the  United  States,  both  the  obverse  and  reverse,  can  be 
found  in  the  National  History  of  the  United  States  by  Lossing  and  Williams,  2  vols., 
published  by  E.  Walker,  114  Fulton  street,  New  York. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  481 

red,  hardiness  and  valor ;  and  blue,  the  color  of  the  chief,  signi- 
fies vigilance,  perseverance,  and  justice. 

"  The  olive  branch  and  arrows  denote  the  power  of  peace  and 
war,  which  is  exclusively  vested  in  congress.  The  constellation 
denotes  a  new  state  taking  its  place  and  rank  among  the  sove- 
reign powers  ;  the  escutcheon  is  borne  on  the  breast  of  the 
American  eagle  without  any  other  supporters,  to  denote  that 
the  United  States  of  America  ought  to  rely  on  their  own  virtue. 

"  REVERSE.  The  pyramid  signifies  strength  and  duration  ;  the 
eye  over  it,  and  the  motto  alludes  to  the  many  and  signal  interpo- 
sitions of  providence  in  favor  of  the  American  cause.  The  date 
underneath  is  that  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  ;  and  the 
words  under  it  signify  the  beginning  of  the  new  era,  which  com- 
mences from  that  date." 

On  the  north  and  south  walls  of  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  New  York, 
opposite  each  other,  and  half  way  down  the  nave,  hang  the  arms 
of  the  United  States  and  the  state  of  New  York.  These  are 
supposed  to  mark  the  places  which  were  occupied  by  the  large 
square  pews  set  apart  for  the  president  of  the  United  States  and 
the  governor  of  the  state.  At  "  some  dreary  day  of  moderniz- 
ing and  miscalled  improvement "  these  canopied  pews  were 
destroyed,  and  the  paintings  consigned  to  unmerited  obscurity. 
A  few  years  ago  they  were  restored,  as  nearly  as  could  be  de- 
termined, to  their  original  positions. 

The  arms  of  the  United  States  on  the  north  side,  are  believed 
to  mark  the  place  of  the  president's  pew,  in  which  Gen.  Wash- 
ington was  accustomed  to  sit.  The  painting  is  evidently  the 
work  of  a  skillful  painter,  working  from  the  device  of  an  expe- 
rienced herald.  The  blazon  is  as  follows  : 

Urgent  six  pa  lets  gules,  a  chief  azure.  Borne  on  the  breast  of  the 
American  Eagle  displayed,  in  his  dexter  talon  an  olive  branch,  in 
his  sinister  a  bundle  of  thirteen  arrows,  points  upward,  all  proper, 
the  last  feathered  or ;  bis  head  surrounded  with  a  circular  sky,  azure, 
charged  with  thirteen  mullets  5,4,3,  I,  argent,  environed  with 
clouds  proper  and  beyond  rays,  or ;  in  his  beak  a  scroll  with  the  words 
"  E  Pluribus  unum  "  gold.* 

Mr.  Lossing  2  says  upon  the  authority  of  Thomas  Barrett,  an 
antiquary  of  Manchester,  that  these  arms  were  suggested  to  John 
Adams  by  Sir  John  Prestwich,  who  meant  to  signify  by  the  blue 
chief  the  protection  of  heaven  over  the  states.  The  legal  bla- 
zon of  the  arms  is  a  good  one,  but  the  one  describing  the  arms 


1  Heraldry  St.  Paul's  chapel,  in  New  York  Genealogical  and  Biographical  Record, 
July,  1872. 

2  Field  Book  American  Revolution^  vol.  H. 

61 


482  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

in  St.  Paul's  is  more  definite  and  clear.  It  is  to  be  regretted 
that  in  the  ordinary  representation  of  the  arms  of  the  United 
States  the  chief  is  often  charged  with  three  or  more  mullets. 

The  question  from  whence  our  fathers  derived  the  motto  E 
Pluribus  Unum  is  often  asked  but  has  never  been  satisfactorily 
answered.  It  has  been  suggested  that,  as  about  the  time  of  the 
revolution,  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  had  a  popular  circulation 
in  the  colonies,  the  motto  may  have  been  adopted  from  the 
motto  on  the  title  page  of  that  serial.  The  title  to  the  first 
volume  of  the  Gentleman's  Magazine,  1731,  forty-five  years  pre- 
vious to  the  adoption  of  the  motto  on  our  arms,  has  the  device 
of  a  hand  grasping  a  bunch  of  flowers,  and  the  motto  E  Pluribus 
Unum.  And  on  the  title  to  the  first  or  January  number,  and 
all  the  subsequent  numbers  of  the  first  volume  is  the  motto  Pro- 
desse  et  Delect  are.  The  title  of  the  magazine  says,  that  its 
contents  are  collected  chiefly  from  the  public  papers  by  Syl- 
vanus  Urban. 

On  the  title  to  the  second  vol.  (1732),  the  two  mottoes  are 
united  thus  : 

"  Prodesse  et  Delectare,  [device 'of  a  hand  grasping  a  boquet] 
E  Pluribus  Unum." 

And  these  united  mottoes  are  continued  on  the  title  pages  of 
the  magazine  a  hundred  years  later,  in  1833,  after  which  their 
use  was  discontinued.  There  were,  however,  some  changes  in 
the  intervening  years.  From  1786  to  '88,  the  volumes  bore 
the  mottoes  without  the  device.  From  1789,  to  '94,  the  de- 
vice but  no  mottoes.  In  1798,  the  mottoes  but  no  device. 
In  1808,  the  device  was  changed  from  a  hand  grasping  a  bo- 
quet, to  a  vase  filled  with  fruit  and  flowers,  and  this  device 
with  the  mottoes,  as  established  in  1732,  was  continued  on  all 
the  volumes  of  the  magazine  from  1808,  to  1832.  In  1834  a 
new  series  was  commenced  and  the  old  mottoes  were  abandoned. 

A  writer  in  Lippincotfs  Magazine  x  traces  the  origin  of  our 
motto  to  a  Latin  poem,  ascribed  to  Virgil.  He  says  :  "  Perhaps 
in  the  minds  of  those  who  first  chose  it  to  express  the  peculiar 
character  of  our  government  it  had  no  definite  origin.  It  may 
have  been  manufactured  for  the  occasion.  Certain  it  is,  when 
it  was  first  used  in  the  report  of  the  committee  of  congress, 
Aug.  7,  1776,  as  the  epigraph  of  the  public  seal,  it  was  a  phrase 
too  familiar  or  too  plain  to  need  explanation  or  authority.  But 
whether  remembered,  or  reinvented  on  that  occasion,  almost  the 
exact  words  occur  in  a  Latin  poem  called  Moretum,  ascribed  to 
Virgil,  but  which  is  not  usually  found  in  his  collected  works. 

1  Lippincotts  Magazine  for  Feb.   1868. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  483 

It  is  a  vivid  description  of  an  ancient  Italian  peasant's  morning 
meal,  with  incidental  suggestions  of  his  mode  of  life  generally. 
The  moretum  is  a  species  of  pottage  made  of  herbs  and  cheese 
which  with  the  help  of  his  servants  he  concocts  before  dawn; 
he  grinds  up  the  various  materials  with  a  pestle.  Then  says 
the  poet : 

'  It  matus  in  gyrum,  paullatum  singula  vivres, 
Dependunt  propries  ;  color  est  E  PLURIBUS  UNUM! 

This  poem  has  been  seldom  noticed." 

A  writer  in  the  Overland  Monthly,  published  in  San  Francisco, 
says: 

"  In  choosing  a  national  motto,  they  [our  fathers],  derived  it 
from  a  modest  metrical  composition  in  Latin,  written  by  John 
Carey,  of  Philadelphia,1  and  entitled,  '  The  Pyramid  of  Fifteen 
States/  in  which  occurs  the  following  verse. 

'  Audax  inde  cohors  stellis  e  pluribiis  unum. 
Aadua  pyramidos  tollit  ad  astra  caput." 9'2 

The  pyramid  of  fifteen  states,  is  evidence  that  the  poem  was 
written  in  1794  or  '95,  after  the  admission  of  Vermont  and  Ken- 
tucky to  the  original  thirteen. 


1I  can  find  no  mention  of  John  Carey  or  Gary,  of  Philadelphia,  in  any  of  the 
American  Biographical  Dictionaries. 

2  Picking  Historical  Marrowbones  by  Stephen  Powers  in  Overland  Monthly ,  March 
1871. 


484  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  TH& 


AMERICAN  YACHT  CLUBS. 

Yachting  has  ever  been  and  must  always  remain  an  aris- 
tocratic sport.  The  cost  of  building  and  maintaining  even 
the  smallest  yacht,  places  yachting  beyond  the  resources  of 
any  but  the  wealthy.  The  rich  merchants  of  Tyre,  of  whom 
the  Prophet  Ezekiel  wrote,  had  their  private  galleys,  with 
"  benches  of  ivory  "  and  masts  of  cedar  of  Lebanon  ;  and 
spread  forth  sails  of  'fine  linen  with  broidered  work  from 
Egypt/  The  yachts  of  the  Roman  emperors  were  built  of 
costly  cedar  inlaid,  their  sterns  studded  with  rare  jewels.  They 
were  furnished  with  baths,  porticos,  and  even  hot  houses,  and 
gardens.  It  is  safe  to  conclude  that  they  never  engaged  in 
ocean  regattas  or  were  remarkable  for  their  speed.  The  royal 
yachts  of  England,  France,  Holland  and  Russia  are  styled  the 
perfections  of  their  class,  but  in  reference  to  the  comfort  of 
their  accommodations,  rather  than  to  the  perfections  of  their 
models.  Queen  Victoria  has  three  steam  yachts,  the  Prince 
of  Wales  two,  and  the  Duke  of  Edinburgh  one.  The  latter,  being 
a  sailor,  has  seen  that  his  yacht  possesses  good  seagoing  quali- 
ties and  speed  as  well  as  cabin  accommodations.  Napoleon  III. 
kept  three  steam  yachts  which  are  now  the  property  of  the  re- 
public. For  over  thirty  years  the  Czar  of  Russia  has  main- 
tained an  Imperial  yacht  club  at  St.  Petersburg^  to  encourage  a 
taste  for  nautical  science  among  the  young  nobility  of  his  empire.1 

The  English  naval  dockyards,  built  royal  yachts  as  far  back 
as  1660  when  Phineas  Petts  was  the  master  shipwright  of  the 
royal  navy.  Charles  n.  owned  the  yacht  Mary  of  163  tons  and 
the  ^ueensborrougb  of  27  tons.  Pepys  mentions  a  race,  May 
i'66i,  between  a  Dutch  yacht  belonging  to  the  merry  monarch 
and  a  new  one  built  by  Petts  and  says  :  "  Commissioner  Petts 
do  prove  better  than  the  Dutch  one  that  his  brother  (the  before 
mentioned  master  shipwright),  built." 

The  first  English  yacht  club  organized  was  "  The  Cork 
Water  Club,"  founded  in  1720.  Its  first  regatta  was  held  in 
Cork  haibor,  1812.  The  name  was  altered  to  the  Royal 
Cork  Yacht  Club,  which  held  its  first  regatta  in  1828. 

Yachting  flourishes  in  England  more  widely  than  in  any 
other  country  for  the  reason  that  the  English  possess  great 
wealth  concentrated  in  the  hands  of  a  few  persons  and  the  coast 
of  Great  Britain  is  studded  with  good  harbors.  There  are  nearly, 
if  not  quite  fifty  yacht  clubs  in  England,  each  of  which  has  a  flag 


1  Yachts  and  Yachting  in  ScribneSs  Monthly,  for  August. 


PL.  XII 


AMERICAN        YACHT        CLUBS 


AMERICAN       YACHT. 


FLAG  OF  THE    UNITED  STATES. 


485 


of  its  own,  which  only  its  members,  who  are  yacht  owners,  have 
a  right  to  display.  The  Royal  Yacht  squadron  of  Cowes,  the 
largest  in  the  isle,  besides  its  distinctive  squadron  flag,  has  the  ex- 
clusive right  to  carry  the  wfcite  ensign  of  the  British  navy.  In 
1 850  the  yacht  fleet  of  England  numbered  800  vessels.  In  1867 
Hunt's  Universal  Yacht  List  gave  the  number  as  1048.  The 
cost  of  the  present  yacht  fleet  of  Great  Britain  has  been 
estimated  at  $10,000,000,  and  the  cost  of  its  annual  mainten- 
ance calculated  as  not  far  from  two  million  of  dollars.  Over 
6000  men  are  employed  in  the  English  yachts. 

The  first  yacht  club  in  the  United  States  was  styled  the 
"Hoboken  Model  Yacht  Club."  It  was  organized  in  1840, 
and  consisted  of  a  few  small  sail  boats.  In  1844  it  was  merged 
in  the  New  York  Yacht  Club  organized  that  year  with  171 
members,  and  a  fleet  of  17  vessels,  but  it  was  not  incorporated 
until  1865.  This  club  has  now  440  members,  and  a  squadron 
of  55  vessels  with  an  aggregate  of  5,000  tons  representing 
a  cost  value  of  about  two  millions  of  dollars,  while  the  value  of 
the  yacht  fleet  of  the  whole  country,  represented  by  thirty-one 
distinct  clubs  in  1872,  is  estimated  to  have  cost  five  millions. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  these  organizations,  each  having  its 
distinctive  flag,  viz.  : 

Lynn. 

Hoboken. 

Dorchester. 

Newark. 
1 6.  Oceania. 

Jersey  City. 
1 8.  Coopers  Point. 

Madison. 

Bunker  Hill. 

Oshkosh,  (Wis).~ 

Stapleton. 


i.  New  York. 

12. 

2.   Eastern. 

J3* 

3.   Brooklyn. 

H- 

4.  Atlantic. 

15. 

5.   Boston. 

16. 

6.  South  Boston. 

17. 

7.   Bayonne. 

18. 

8.   Harlem. 

19. 

9.   Manhattan. 

20. 

10.  Pensacola. 

21. 

ii.  Crescent  City. 

22. 

23- 
24. 


27. 
28, 
29. 

3°- 
31- 


Columbia. 

Flushing. 

Franklin. 

Portland. 

Shrewsbury. 

San  Francisco. 

Kensington. 

lone. 

Beverley.1 


In  1848,  through  the  influence  and  exertions  of  the  New 
York  Yacht  Club,  the  following  act  for  the  encouragement  of 
yachting  was  enacted. 


"  AN  ACT  to  authorize  the   secretary  of  the  treasury  to  license 
yachts,  and  for  other  purposes. 

"  Section  i.   Be  it  enacted  by  the  senate  and  house   of  repre- 
sentatives of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  congress  assem- 


1  The  club  signal  and  commodores  pendant's  of  eight  of  these  clubs  is  represented 
in  plate  xn.  I  would  have  given  more  of  the  signals  and  further  information  con- 
cerning our  yacht  clubs,  could  I  have  obtained  answers  to  my  letters  of  inquiry. — 

G.  H.  P. 


486  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

bled  :  That  the  secretary  of  the  treasury  is  hereby  authorized 
to  cause  yachts,  used  and  employed  exclusively  as  pleasure  ves- 
sels, and  designed  as  models  of  naval  architecture,  and  to  be 
enrolled  as  American  vessels,  to  be  licensed  on  terms  which  will 
authorize  them  to  proceed  from  port  to  port  of  the  United 
States 1  without  entering  or  clearing  at  the  Custom  House. 
"  Such  license  shall  be  in  such  form  as  the  secretary  of  the  trea- 
sury may  prescribe.  Provided  such  vessels  so  enrolled  and 
licensed  shall  not  be  allowed  to  transport  merchandise  or  carry 
passengers  for  pay  ;  and  provided  further  :  That  the  owner  of 
any  such  vessel  before  taking  out  such  license,  shall  give  bond 
in  such  form  and  for  such  amount  as  the  secretary  of  the  trea- 
sury shall  prescribe,  conditional  that  the  said  vessel  shall  not 
engage  in  any  unlawful  trade,  and  shall  comply  with  the  laws 
in  all  other  respects. 

"  Sec.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted :  That  all  such  vessels  shall 
in  all  respects,  except  as  above,  be  subject  to  the  laws  of  the 
United  States,  and  shall  be  liable  to  seizure  and  forfeiture  for 
any  violation  of  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

"  Sec.  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted :  That  all  such  licensed 
yachts  shall  use  a  signal  of  the  form,  size  and  colors  prescribed 
by  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  and  the  owners  thereof  shall  at  all 
times  permit  the  naval  architects  in  the  employ  of  the  United 
States  to  examine  and  copy  the  models  of  said  yachts. 

"Approved  August  yth,  1848." 

AMERICAN  YACHT  ENSIGNS. 

The  flag  prescribed  by  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  under  au- 
thority of  this  act,  and  which  continues  to  be  the  recognized 
American  Yacht  Ensign  was  the  American  ensign,  substituting 
in  the  blue  field  a  white  foul  anchor,  encircled  by  thirteen 
stars  in  white,  in  lieu  of  a  star  for  each  state  (see  plate  xii). 

In  1870,  the  act  of  1848,  was  amended  as  follows  : 

"  AN  ACT  To  amend  an  act  entitled  *  an  act  to  authorize  the 
secretary  of  the  treasury  to  license  Yachts.' 

"  Section  I.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  senate,  and  house  of  repre- 
sentatives of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  congress  assem- 
bled :  That  the  first  section  of  the  act,  entitled  '  an  act  to 
authorize  the  secretary  of  the  treasury  to  license  yachts,  and 
for  other  purposes',  approved  August  yth,  1848,  is  hereby 
amended  by  inserting  in  the  first  clause  thereof,  after  the  words 


1  Amended,  June  ao,  1870,  by  the  insertion  of  the  words  "And  by  sea  to  foreign 
ports." 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  487 

cport  to  port  of  the  United  States'  the  words  'and  by  sea  to 
foreign  ports.' 

"  Sec.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted  :  That  yachts  belonging 
to  a  regularly  organized  yacht  club,  of  any  foreign  nation,  which 
shall  extend  like  privileges  to  the  yachts  of  the  United  States  shall 
have  the  privilege  of  entering  or  leaving  any  port  of  the  United 
States  without  entering  or  clearing  at' the  Custom  House  thereof, 
or  paying  tonnage  tax. 

"  Sec.  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted  :  That  for  the  identifica- 
tion of  yachts  and  their  owners,  a  commission  to  sail  for  pleasure 
in  any  designated  yacht  belonging  to  any  regularly  organized  and 
incorporated  yacht  club,  stating  the  exemptions  and  privileges 
enjoyed  under  it,  may  be  issued  by  the  secretary  of  the  treasury, 
and  shall  be  a  token  of  credit  to  any  United  States  official,  and 
to  the  authorities  of  any  foreign  power  for  privileges  enjoyed 
under  it.  • 

"  Sec.  4.  And  be  it  further  enacted  :  That  every  yacht,  visiting 
a  foreign  country  under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  shall,  on  its 
return  to  the  United  States,  make  due  entry  at  the  Custom  House 
of  the  port  at  which,  on  such  return,  it  shall  arrive. 

"Approved  June  29th,  1870." 

The  following  are  the  forms  adopted  for  licensing  and  com- 
missioning American  yachts  and  for  application  for  a  commission. 
I  am  informed  by  the  assistant  secretary  of  the  treasury  that  up  to 
April,  1872,  only  one  commission  had  been  issued. 

"  Official  Number. 

"Numeral  letter. 

LICENSE 

"  Of  a  yacht  of  twenty  tons  and  upwards,  to  proceed  from  port 
to  port  of  the  United  States,  without  entering  or  clearing  at  the 
Custom  House. 

"In  pursuance  of  an  act  of  the  congress  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  entitled,  "  An  act  to  authorize  the  secretary  of  the 

treasury  to  license  yachts,  and  for  other  purposes," 

having  given  bond  that  the called  the whereof  the  said, .... 

are  owners,  burden tons  and hundredths  of  a  ton,  as  ap- 
pears by  her  enrollment,  dated  at ,used  and  employed  exclu- 
sively as  a  pleasure  vessel,  and  designed  as  a  model  of  naval  archi- 
tecture, shall  not,  while  this  license  continues  in  force,  transport 
merchandise  or  carry  passengers  for  pay,  or  engage  in  any  un- 
lawful trade,  nor  in  any  way  violate  the'  revenue  laws  of  the 
United  States,  and  shall  comply  with  the  laws  in  all  other 
respects. 

"License  is  hereby  granted  for  the  said  yacht,  called  the to 

proceed  from  port  to  port  of  the  United  States,  without  entering 


488  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

or  clearing  at  the  Custom  House  but  not  to  be  allowed  to  trans- 
port merchandise  or  carry  passengers  for  pay.  This  license  to 
continue  and  be  in  force  for  one  year  from  the  date  hereof  and 

no  longer.     Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at this day  of 

in  the  year  187 " ,  Collector. 

" ,  Naval  Officer." 


APPLICATION  FOR  A  YACHT  COMMISSION. 

"187.... 

"I, ,owner  of  the  yacht  called  the ,  of , 

hereby  make  application  for  a  commission  to  sail  the » said 
yacht  on  a  voyage  of  pleasure  to  a  foreign  port  or  ports,  under 
the  provisions  of  Sec.  3,  Act  of  June  29,  1870. 

" ,  Owner. 

"  To  ,  Collector  of  Customs. 

"Description. — -Name, ,Home  Port, ,  Manag- 
ing Owner,  ,  Master,   Rig,   ,  Tonnage, 

Name,  of  Yacht  Club, , Official  Number, , 

Bound  for 

"Custom  House  ,  187... 

"I  hereby  certify,  that  the  above-mentioned  Yacht  belongs  to 

the  ,  Yacht  Club,  an  association  duly  incorporated  and 

organized  under  the  laws  of  the  state  of ,  and  I  recom- 
mend that  the  above  application  for  a  commission  be  granted  by 
the  secretary  of  the  treasury. 

" ,  Collector." 


COMMISSION. 

"  Commission  for  a  Pleasure  Yacht  under  the  act  of  June  2Qth, 
1870. — The  secretary  of  the  treasury  of  the  United  States  of 
America.  To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come  greeting : 

Be  it    known,  that  whereas  the  Yacht,  called  the of , 

whereof is  at  present  master  or  commander,  being  schooner 

rigged  and  of  the  burden  of tons,  or  thereabouts,  her  official 

number  being Belonging  to  an  association  duly  incorporated 

and   organized  under  the  laws  of  the  state    of known  as 

the hath  been  duly  enrolled  and  licensed  according  to  law, 

which  said  yacht  is  now  lying  at  the  Port  of bound  for, 

on  a  voyage  of  pleasure;  and  whereas the  owner  thereof, 

has  made  application  for  a  commission  for  the  said  yacht  under 
the  provisions  of  the  act  hereinafter  mentioned  : 

"  Now,  therefore,  I,  George  S.  Boutwell,  secretary  of  the  trea- 
sury, in  pursuance  of  authority  in  me  vested  by  the  act  entitled 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  489 

c  An  Act  to  amend  an  Act,  entitled  an  Act  to  authorize  the  secre- 
tary of  the  treasury  to  license  yachts,' approved  June  29,  1870,  do 

hereby  commission  the  aforesaid  yacht  called  the    as   a 

vessel  of  the  United  States,  entitled  to  proceed  from  port  to 
port  of  the  United  States,  and  by  sea  to  foreign  ports  without 
entering  or  clearing  at  the  Custom  House :  Provided,  that  said 
yacht  shall  not  transport  merchandise  nor  carry  passengers  for 
pay,  nor  engage  in  any  unlawful  trade,  nor  in  any  way  violate 
the  laws  of  the  United  States :  And  provided  further,  that  the 
said  yacht  having  visited  a  foreign  country  shall,  on  returning 
to  the  United  States,  make  due  entry  at  the  Custom  House  of  the 
district,  within  which  on  such  return  she  shall  first  arrive,  and 
shall  thereupon  surrender  this  commission ;  and  so  long  as  the 
aforesaid  conditions  ohall  be  faithfully  observed  this  commission 
shall  be  a  token  of  credit  to  any  United  States  official  at  home  or 
abroad,  and  to  the  authorities  of  any  foreign  power,  for  the  pri- 
vileges enjoyed  under  it. 

"In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  subscribed  my  name  and 
caused  the  seal  of  the  treasury  department  to  be  affixed,  at  the 

city  of  Washington,  on  the day  of in  the  year  of  our 

Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy 

" ,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 

"Attest: 


The  Queen's  Cup 
won  by  the  America,  1851. 


62 


490  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 


OUR  NATIONAL  SONGS. 


HAIL  COLUMBIA. 

BY  JOSEPH  HOPKINSON. 

The  author  of  this  national  lyric,  the  Hon.  Joseph  Hopkinson 
LL.D.,  was  the  son  of  Francis  Hopkinson.  He  was  vice 
president  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society  and  president  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  Fine  Arts,  etc.  He  died  at  Phila- 
delphia, Jan.  15,  1842,  aged  72  years.  In  a  letter  addressed 
to  the  Rev.  Rufus  W.  Griswold,  a  few  months  before  his  death 
he  said : 

Hail  Columbia  was  written  in  the  summer  of  1798,  when  war 
with  France  was  thought  to  be  inevitable.  Congress  was  then  in 
session  in  Philadelphia,  deliberating  upon  that  important  subject, 
and  acts  of  hostility  had  actually  taken  place.  The  contest  be- 
tween England  and  France  was  raging,  and  the  people  of  the 
United  States  were  divided  into  parties  for  the  one  side,  or  the 
other,  some  thinking  that  policy  and  duty  required  us  to  espouse  the 
cause  of  republican  France,  as  she  was  called ;  while  others  were 
for  connecting  ourselves  with  England,  under  the  belief  that  she 
was  the  great  preservative  power  of  good  principles  and  safe 
government.  The  violation  of  our  rights  by  both  belligerents, 
was  forcing  us  from  the  just  and  wise  policy  of  President  WASH- 
INGTON, which  was  to  do  equal  justice  to  both,  but  to  take  part 
with  neither,  and  to  preserve  a  strict  and  honest  neutrality  between 
them.  The  prospect  of  a  rupture  with  France  was  exceedingly 
offensive  to  the  portion  of  the  people  who  espoused  her  cause, 
and  the  violence  of  the  spirit  of  party  has  never  risen  higher,  I 
think  not  so  high,  in  our  country,  as  it  did  at  that  time  upon 
that  question.  The  theatre  was  then  open  in  our  city  ;  a  young 
man  belonging  to  it,  whose  talent  was  high  as  a  singer,  was  about  to 
take  a  benefit.  I  had  known  him  when  he  was  at  school.  On 
this  acquaintance,  he  called  on  me  one  Saturday  afternoon,  his 
benefit  being  announced  for  the  following  Monday.  His  pro- 
spects were  very  disheartening,  but  he  said  that  if  he  could  get 
a  patriotic  song  adapted  to  the  President's  March,  he  did  not 
doubt  of  a  full  house  ;  that  the  poets  of  the  theatrical  corps,  had 
been  trying  to  accomplish  it,  but  had  not  succeeded.  I  told  him 
I  would  try  what  I  could  do  for  him.  He  came  the  next  after- 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  491 

noon,  and  the  song,  such  as  it  is,  was  ready  for  him. T  The  ob- 
ject of  the  author,  was  to  get  up  an  American  spirit  which  should 
be  independent  of,  and  above  the  interests,  passion  and  policy  of 
both  belligerents,  and  look  and  feel  exclusively  for  our  honor  and 
rights.  No  allusion  is  made  to  France  or  England,  or  the  quar- 
rel between  them,  or  to  the  question  which  was  most  in  fault 
in  their  treatment  of  us  ;  of  course,  the  song  found  favor  with  both 
parties,  for  both  were  American ;  at  least  neither  could  disown 
the  sentiments  and  feelings  it  indicated.  Such  is  the  history  of 
this  song  which  has  endured  infinitely  beyond  the  expectation 
of  the  author,  as  it  is  beyond  any  merit  it  can  boast  of,  except 
that  of  being  truly  and  exclusively  patriotic  in  its  sentiments  and 
spirit.  "  Very  respectfully, 

"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"JOS.  HOPKINSON. 

"Rev.  Rufus  W.  Griswold." 


Hail  Columbia,  happy  land! 
Hail  ye  heroes  !  heaven  born  band  ! 
Who  fought  and  bled  in  Freedom's  cause, 
Who  fought  and  bled  in  Freedom's  cause, 
And  when  the  storm  of  war  was  gone, 
Enjoy'd  the  peace  your  valor  won. 
Let  independence  be  your  boast, 
Ever  mindful  what  it  cost  ; 
Ever  grateful  for  the  prize, 
Let  its  altar  reach  the  skies. 

Firm  —  united  —  let  us  be, 
Rallying  round  our  Liberty; 
.  As  a  band  of  brothers  join'd, 
Peace  and  safety  we  shall  find. 


n. 

Immortal  patriots !  rise  once  more ; 
Defend  our  rights,  defend  our  shore  ; 
Let  no  rude  "foe  with  impious  hand, 
Let  no  rude  foe  with  impious  hand, 

1  Mr.  Reinagle  with  Mr.  Wignall,  of  the  new  theatre  on  Chestnut  street,  ar- 
ranged the  music  for  the  song,  and  for  the  President's  March.  Both  were  printed  by 
Willig  the  music  seller  on  South  Fourth  St.,  Philadelphia.  The  author,  in  a  letter  to 
"  The  Wyoming  Bard,"  August  24,  1840,  giving  a  particular  history  of  its  composition 
says  it  was  called  for  on  Saturday,  completed  on  Sunday  evening,  announced  Monday 
morning,  and  sung  at  the  theatre  the  same  evening.  A  correspondent  of  the  Historical 
Magazine  says  it  was  written  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Fox,  a  professed  vocalist  who  was 
perhaps  the  actor  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Hopkinson. 


492  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Invade  the  shrine,  where  sacred  lies, 
Of  toil  and  blood,  the  well  earn'd  prize 
While  offering  peace  sincere  and  just ; 
In  Heaven  we  place  a  manly  trust, 
That  truth  and  justice  may  prevail 
And  every  scheme  of  bondage  fail. 

Firm  —  united  —  let  us  be,  &c. 


III. 

Sound,  sound  the  trump  of  Fame ! 

Let  WASHIHGTON'S  great  name 

Ring  through  the  world  with  loud  applause, 

Ring  through  the  world  with  loud  applause ; 

Let  every  clime  to  Freedom  dear, 

Listen  with  a  joyful  ear  ; 

With  equal  skill,  and  godlike  power 

He  governs  in  the  fearful  hour 

Of  horrid  war  ;  or  guides  with  ease 

The  happier  times  of  honest  peace. 

Firm  —  united  —  let  us  be,  &c. 


IV. 

Behold  the  chief  who  now  commands, 
Once  more  to  serve  his  country  stands — 
The  rock  on  which  the  storm  will  beat, 
The  rock  on  which  the  storm  will  beat : 
But  armed  in  virtue  firm  and  true 
His  hopes  are  fixed  on  Heaven  and  you. 
When  hope  was  sinking  in  dismay, 
And  gloom  obscured  Columbia's  day, 
His  steady  mind  from  changes  free 
Resolved  on  death  or  liberty. 

Firm  —  united  —  let  us  be,  &c. 


THE  STAR  SPANGLED  BANNER. 

BY  FRANCIS  SCOTT  KEY. 

Col.  John  L.  Warner  read,  in  1867,  a  paper  before  the  Penn- 
sylvania Historical  Society  in  which  he  gave  the  following  ac- 
count of  this  national  anthem : 

"  Just  previous  to  the  bombardment  of  Fort  McHenry,  the 
author,  Francis  S.  Key,  was  commissioned  by  the  government 


FLAG  OF  TttE  UNITED  STATES.  493 

to  visit  the  invading  fleet  to  negotiate  some  international  law 
questions  regarding  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  and  went  down  to 
the  fleet  under  a  flag  of  truce.1  He  was  received  with  courtesy  on 
board  the  Minden,  Admiral  Cockburn's  flag  ship,  but  his  visit 
being  on  the  eve  of  the  attack  upon  Baltimore  and  the  forts,  it 
was  deemed  expedient  to  detain  Mr.  Key  as  a  prisoner,  until 
the  result  of  the  action  was  ascertained.  Thus  detained  he  was 
a  painful  witness  of  the  bombardment  of  Fort  McHenry  from 
sunrise  of  the  I3th  of  Sept.,  1814,  to  7  A.  M.  of  the  I4th.  We 
can  imagine  the  anxious  feeling  of  poor  Key,  during  this  long 
shelling,  through  a  dark  and  rainy  night ;  but  when  the  dawn  of 
day  broke  on  the  I4th,  and  developed  to  his  sight  the  starry 
banner  still  proudly  waving  on  the  fort's  flagstaff  we  can  almost 
realize  his  joy  of  heart. 

"It  was  during  his  detention,  and  the  consequent  excitement 
of  patriotic  feeling,  that  Mr.  Key  composed  the  outlines  of  the 
Star  Spangled  Banner,  which  has  since  become  nationalized  as 
the  hymn  of  the  republic.  After  his  liberation  Mr.  Key  re- 
turned to  Baltimore  and  there  perfected  his  very  interesting  and 
deep  hearted  poem.  The  British,  defeated  before  Baltimore,  re- 
turned at  once  to  Chesapeake  bay.  Mr.  Key  having  in  a  few 
days  completed  a  perfect  copy  of  his  stanzas,  gave  the  song  to 
Captain  Benjamin  Edes,  printer,  established  at  the  corner  of 
Baltimore  and  Jay  streets,  to  print  and  distribute  to  the  citizens. 
Edes  was  a  captain  in  the  2yth  Baltimore  regiment,  commanded 
by  Col.  Long,  which  had  recently  done  good  service  in  the  bat- 
tle of  North  Point.  The  Star  Spangled  Banner  was  first  sung, 
when  fresh  from  press,  at  a  small  one  story  frame  house  occu- 
pied as  a  tavern  next  to  the  Holiday  street  Theatre.2  This 
tavern  had  long  been  kept  by  the  Widow  Berling,  and  then 
by  a  Captain  MacCauley,  a  house  where  players  '  most  did 
congregate,'  to  prepare  for  the  daily  military  drill  in  Jay 
street,  every  able  man  being  at  that  time  a  soldier.  There 

1  A  correspondent  of  the  National  Intelligencer,  says  :  "  According  to  the  best  in- 
formation within  our  reach,  he  was  picked  up  in  a  small  boat  while  going  to  the 
British  fleet  to  obtain  the  release  of  a  friend,  and,  having  been  detained  one  night  as 
a  prisoner,  was  an  unwilling  spectator  of  the  bombardment  j  and  by  the  light  of 
rockets  and  bursting  shells,  he  and  his  companion,  to  whom  it  seems  he  addressed 
himself  in  the  poem,  could  catch  occasional  glimpses  of  the  loved  flag  still  flying  defi- 
antly over  the  fort  that  protected  Baltimore."  Hence  his  language  "the  e/ouds  of  the 
fight,"  in  the  version  here  given  instead  of  perilous  fight  which  is  the  common  ver- 
sion.—G.  H.  P. 

a  A  correspondent  of  the  Historical  Magazine,  October,  1864,  says  it  was  first  sung 
by  about  twenty  volunteer  soldiers  in  front  of  the  Holiday  street  Theatre.  He  was  one 
of  the  group  j  that  his  brother  sung  it,  and  he  and  the  rest  joined  in  the  chorus.  He 
also  said  the  singers  were  accustomed  to  congregate  at  the  adjoining  tavern  to  get  their 
juleps  and  Benjamin  Edes  brought  it  round  to  them  on  one  of  their  libating  mornings  or 
matinees. 


494  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

also  came  Capt.  Benjamin  Edes,  of  the  2;th  regiment,  Capts. 
Long  and  Warner  of  the  39th  regiment,  and  Major  Frailey. 
Warner  was  a  silversmith  of  good  repute  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  latter  end  of  Sept.,  1814,  when  a  number  of  the 
young  defenders  of  the  monumental  city  was  assembled,  Capts. 
Edes  and  Warner  called  the  group  to  order  to  listen  to  the 
patriotic  song  which  Capt.  Edes  had  just  struck  off  at  his 
press.  He  then  read  it  aloud  to  the  volunteers  assembled  who 
greeted  each  verse  with  hearty  shouts.  It  was  suggested  it 
should  be  sung,  but  who  was  there  could  sing  it  ?  The  task 
was  assigned  to  Ferdinand  Durang  who  made  one  of  the  group 
and  who  was  known  to  be  a  vocalist.  The  old  air  of  Anacreon 
in  Heaven  had  been  adapted  to  it  by  the  author  and  Mr.  Edes 
was  desired  so  to  print  it  on  the  top  of  the  ballad.  Its  solemn 
melody  and  expressive  notes  seem  naturally  allied  to  the  poetry 
and  speak  emphatically  of  the  musical  taste  and  judgment  of 
Mr.  Key.  Ferdinand  Durang  mounted  an  old  rush  bottomed 
chair  and  sung  this  admirable  song  for  the  first  time  in  our 
union,  the  chorus  of  each  verse  being  reechoed  by  those  present 
with  infinite  harmony  of  voices.  It  was  sung  several  times 
that  morning.1  When  the  theatre  was  opened,  by  Warner  and 
Wood  as  managers,  it  was  sung  by  c  Paddy '  McFarland  and  the 
company  nightly,  after  the  play." 

Francis  Scott  Key,  the  author,  a  lawyer  by  profession,  was  born 
in  Frederick  county,  Maryland,  August  1, 1779,  and  died  at  Bal- 
timore, January  II,  1843.  ^e  was  educated  at  St.  Johns  col- 
lege, Annapolis,  and  practised  law  in  Frederick  city,  and 
Washington,  D.C.,  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Frederick. 
His  descendants  were  not  all  as  truly  loyal  to  the  flag  in  its 
hour  of  peril  as  he  was. 


1  A  more  fanciful    version  of  this  fact  is  given  by  a  writer  in  Harper's  Magazine. 

"  Have  you  heard  Francis  Key's  poem  ?"  said  one  of  our  mess,  coming  in  one 
evening,  as  we  lay  scattered  over  the  green  hill  near  the  captain's  marquee.  It  was  a 
rude  copy  ,  and  written  in  a  scrawl  which  Horace  Greeley  might  have  mistaken  for  his 
own.  He  read  it  aloud,  once,  twice,  three  times,  until  the  entire  division  seemed 
electrified  by  its  pathetic  eloquence. 

"An  idea  seized  Ferd  Durang.  Hunting  up  a  volume  of  flute  music,  which  was  in 
somebody's  tent,  he  impatiently  whistled  snatches  of  tune  after  tune,  just  as  they 
caught  his  quick  eye.  One,  called  '  Anacreon  in  Heaven,'  (I  have  played  it  often 
lor  it  was  in  my  book  that  he  found  it),  struck  his  fancy  and  riveted  his  attention. 
Note  after  note  fell  from  his  puckered  lips  until,  with  a  leap  and  shout,  he  ex- 
claimed "Boys,  I've  hit  it  !'  and  fitting  the  tune  to  the  words,  there  rang  out  for  the 
first  time  the  song  of  the  Star-Spangled  Banner.  How  the  men  shouted  and  clapped, 
for  never  was  there  a  wedding  of  poetry  to  music  made  under  such  inspiring  influences  ! 
Getting  a  brief  furlough  the  brothers  sang  it  in  public  soon  after.  It  was  caught  up  in 
the  camps,  and  sung  around  the  bivouac  fires,  and  whistled  in  the  streets,  and  when 
peace  was  declared,  and  we  scattered  to  our  homes,  it  was  carried  to  thousands  of  fire- 
sides as  the  most  precious  relic  of  the  war  of  1812." 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  495 

The  original  draft  with  its  erasures,  etc.,  was  purchased  by 
General  George  Keim  of  Reading,  and  is  probably  in  the  pos- 
session of  his  heirs.  It  was  printed  by  Edes  on  a  small  piece 
of  paper  in  the  style  of  our  old  ballads  that  were  hawked  about 
the  streets  in  days  of  yore. 

A  copy  of  the  poem  in  Key's  own  hand  writing,  a  copy  pre- 
pared many  years  after  its  composition,  and  evidently  in  the 
exact  language  intended  by  its  author  (as  it  was  presented  by 
him  to  James  Mahar,  who  for  thirty  years  was  the  gardener  of 
the  executive  mansion),  was  a  few  years  since,  exhibited  in  the 
window  of  Messrs.  Phillip  &  Solomons,  on  Pennsylvania  avenue, 
Washington.  The  identity  of  the  handwriting  was  certified  to 
by  Judge  Dunlop,  Nicholas  Callen  Esq.,  Peter  Force  and  others, 
all  of  whom  were  intimately  acquainted  with  Mr.  Key  and  per- 
fectly familiar  with  h:s  style  of  penmanship.  In  fact  his  style  was 
so  peculiar  and  uniform,  that  it  would  be  almost  impossible  for 
any  one  who  had  ever  noticed  it  with  ordinary  care  to  be  mis- 
taken.1 

The  following  is  a  verbatim  copy  of  this  version  taken  from 
the  National  Intelligencer,  italicising  the  words  that  have  been 
changed  by  various  compilers,  and  referring  by  numerals  to  some 
of  the  changes  that  are  most  common. 


THE  STAR  SPANGLED  BANNER. 


Oh  !  say  can  you  see,  by  the  dawn's  early  light, 

What  so  proudly  we  hailed  at  the  twilight's  last  gleaming. 
Whose  broad  stripes  and  bright  stars,  through  the  clouds  of  the  fight* 
O'er  the  ramparts  we  watched,  were  so  gallantly  streaming  ? 
And  the  rockets  red  glare, 
The  bombs  bursting  in  air, 

Gave  proof  through  the  night  that  our  flag  was  still  there  ; 
O  !  Say  does  that  Star  Spangled  Banner  yet  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave  ? 


On  the  shore  dimly  seen  through  the  mists  of  the  deep, 
Where  the  foes  haughty  host  in  dread  silence  reposes, 

What  is  that  which  the  breeze,  o'er  the  towering  steep 
As  it  fitfully  blows  half^  conceals  half'3  discloses ! 


1  National  Intelligencer. 

3  "  Perilous  fight "  Gnsiuoldy  Dana,  Boys'  Banner  Bookt  Common  "version. 
"  Dana. 


496  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Now  it  catches  the  gleam, 
Of  the  morning's  first  beam, 
In  full  glory  reflected,  now  shines  on  l  the  stream. 
'Tis  the  Star  Spangled  Banner,  O  !  long  may  it  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 


HI. 

And  where  is  the  foe  that  2  so  sweepingly  swore 

That  3  the  havoc  of  war  and  the  battle's  confusion, 
A  home  and  a  country  should  4  leave  us  no  more  ? 

This  5  blood  has  washed  out  his  °  foul  footstep's  pollution, 
No  refuge  could  save, 
The  hireling  and  slave, 

From  the  terrors  of  flight  or  the  gloom  of  the  grave  ; 
And  the  Star  Spangled  Banner  in  triumph  doth  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 


IV. 

Oh  !  thus  be  it  ever !  whenfoemen  7  shall  stand 

Between  their  (8)  loved  homes  and  wars  desolation. 
Blest  with  victory  and  peace,  may  the  Heav'n  rescued  land 
Praise  the  Power,  that  hath  made  and  preserved  us  a  nation, 
Then  conquer  we  must, 
When  our  cause  it  is  just, 
And  this  be  our  motto,  *In  God  is  our  trust.' 9 

And  the  Star  Spangled  Banner  in  triumph  sh^ll  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 

"  For  Mr.  Jas.  Mahar  of  Washington  city, 

"Washington,  June  7,  1842. 

"FromF.  S.  KEY." 


A  correspondent  of  the  Phila.  Eve.  Bulletin  writing  from 
Chester,  in  1861,  asserted  on  the  authority  of  Mrs.  Bradford,  a 
daughter  of  General  Armistead,  that  the  flag  that  floated  over  Fort 


1  O'er,  several  versions. 

2  "  Band  who  "  Grisivo/J,  Dana,  Boys'  Banner  Book. 
8  "  Mid  "  Grisivold,  Dana. 

*  ««  They'd  "  Grisivold. 

6  "  Their  "    (c)  "  Their  "  Grisivold,    Dana,    Boys'  Banner  Book,    Common   version. 
He  heard  the  vaunting  boast  of  a  British  officer,  that  the  fort  would  be  reduced  in  a 
brief  period  after  the  attack,  and  this  circumstance  explains  the  use  of  the  pronouns 
in  the  singular  number.      Nat.  Intel!. 

7  "  Freemen  "  Grisivold,  Boys'  Banner  Book, 

8  "  Our  "  Grisiuold,  Dana,  Common  version. 

tt  "  In  God  ive  trust"  has  by  act  of  congress  been  recently  placed  upon  some  of  the 
coins  of  the  United  States. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  497 

McHenry  during  its  bombardment  by  the  British  squadron  and 
which,  "seen  at  dawn's  early  light"  was  the  occasion  of  this 
national  lyric,  was  then  in  the  possession  of  the  widow  of  Gene- 
ral Armistead  whom  comanded  the  fort. 

Per  contra  a  correspondent  of  the  Historical  Magazine x  says 
that  visiting  the  fort  in  1859  n^s  attention  was  called,  while  in 
the  garret  of  the  barracks,  to  an  American  flag,  which  was  rolled 
up  in  apiece  of  dirty  muslin  and  lay  thrown  into  a  corner  covered 
with  dust,  and  which  Captain  Tillinghast  informed  him  was  the 
indentical  flag  that  floated  over  McHenry  during  the  bombard- 
ment. This  correspondent  examined  the  flag  and  found  eleven 
bullet  holes  through  the  flag  itself,  and  one  through  the  staff 
which  is  preserved. 

W.  B.  D.,  a  correspondent  of  the  Sunday  Dispatch*  says: 
u  In  a  note  which  I  have  just  received  from  a  daughter  of 
Colonel  Armistead  of  Fort  McHenry  fame,  she  writes  me  :  "  My 
mother's  will  says,  the  flag  was  to  go  to  her  youngest  child,  wife 
of  William  Stuart  Appleton,  of  Boston.  Mrs.  Appleton  now  lives 
in  New  York  and  it  is  there,  I  suppose,  the  old  flag  now  is." 

There  being  no  verse  in  the  Star  Spangled  Banner,  as  ori- 
ginally written,  alluding  to  treasonable  attempts  against  it,  Oliver 
Wendell  Holmes  furnished  at  the  commencement  of  the  late 
civil  war  the  following  additional  verse  at  the  request  of  a  lady 
for  her  to  sing.3 

"  When  our  land  is  illumined  with  liberty's  smile, 

If  a  foe  from  within  strikes  a  blow  at  her  glory, 
Down,  down  with  the  traitor  that  dares  to  defile 

The  flag  of  her  stars,  and  bright  page  of  her  glory  ! 
By  the  millions  unchain'd, 
Who  our  birthright  have  gained, 
We  will  keep  her  bright  blazon  forever  unstained  ; 
And  the  Star  Spangled  Banner  in  triumph  shall  wave 
While  the  land  of  the  free,  is  the  home  of  the  brave. 

The  following  verses  to  the  same  air  were  published  anony- 
mously in  a  northern  newspaper  during  the  war.  The  rebels 
also  adapted  words  to  it  to  suit  their  situation  and  sentiments. 

"  HARK,  hark  !  from  the  soil  of  the  rebel  and  slave, 

The  thunders  of  battle  are  fearfully  raging  ; 
Where  hand  of  the  ruffian  and  brain  of  the  knave 
Base  war  on  our  brothers  are  wantonly  waging. 

1  Historical  Magazine  Sept.  1 8 68. 

Philadelphia  Sunday  Dispatch  Dec.  24,  1871. 
•O.  W.  H.  to  G.  H.  P.  April,  14, 187a. 

63 


498  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  Of  THE 

But  by  liberty's  light, 
And  our  dear  country's  might, 

We'll  strike  down  the  traitors,  with  God  for  the  right ; 
And  our  Star  Spangled  Banner  victorious  shall  wave, 
Still  the  pride  of  the  free  and  the  trust  of  the  brave  ! 

"  No  more  in  the  clamor  of  war  may  we  own 

What  factions  in  peace  have  our  passions  incited  ; 
But  now  for  our  country,  our  country  alone, 
Her  honor  and  weal,  be  our  hearts  all  united  ! 
So  by  Liberty's  light, 
And  that  dear  country's  right, 
Triumphant  we  must  be,  with  God  for  the  right  ; 
And  our  Star  Spangled  Banner  victorious  shall  wave, 
Still  the  pride  of  the  free  and  the  trust  of  the  brave ! 


THR  AMERICAN  FLAG. 


BY  JOSEPH  RODMAN  DRAKE. 

"  The  American  Flag  written  by  Drake,  between  the  aoth 
and  25th  day  of  May,  1819,  originally  concluded  with  the  fol- 
lowing lines. 

'  As  fixed  as  yonder  orb  divine 
That  saw  the  bannered  blaze  unfurled, 
Shall  thy  proud  stars  resplendent  shine, 
The  guard  and  glory  of  the  world.' 

"These  not  satisfying  their  author,  he  said  to  Fitz  Green 
Halleck,  'Fitz  can't  you  suggest  a  better  stanza?'  Whereupon 
Halleck  sat  down  and  wrote,  in  a  glowing  burst  of  inspiration, 
the  four  concluding  lines  commencing  'Forever  float,'  etc.,  a 
splendid  improvement  on  the  former  ending,  which  Drake  imme- 
diately accepted  and  incorporated  in  his,  perhaps,  most  popular 
poem."1 

The  first  four  of  the  once  celebrated  series  of  humorous  and 
satirical  odes  known  as  the  Croaker  Pieces  were  written  by 
Drake  for  the  New  York  Evening  Post^  in  which  they  appeared 
between  the  loth  and  2Oth  of  March  1819.  After  the  publica- 
tion of  the  fourth  number  DRAKE  made  HALLECK,  then  recently 
arrived  in  New  York,  partner  and  the  remainder  of  the  pieces 
were  signed  Croaker  &  Co.  The  last  one  written  by  DRAKE 
was  the  American  Flag  printed  on  the  29th  of  May,  1819.  Drake 

1  Putnams  Magazine,  Feb.  1868. 


FLAG  OF  1HE  UNITED  STATES.  499 

placed  a  very  modest  estimate  on  his  own  productions.  When 
on  his  death  bed,  a  friend  enquired  what  disposition  he  would 
have  made  of  his  poems  ?  "  Oh  burn  them,  "  he  replied,  "  they 
are  quite  valueless."1  He  was  born  August  7,  1795,  and  died 
September,  1820,  aged  26. 


When  freedom  from  her  mountain  height 
Unfurled  her  standard  to  the  air 
She  tore  the  azure  robe  of  night, 
And  set  the  stars  of  glory  there. 
She  mingled  with  its  gorgeous  dyes 
The  milky  baldric  of  the  skies, 
And  striped  its  pure,  celestial  white 
With  streakings  of  the  morning  light ; 
Then  from  his  mansion  in  the  sun 
She  called  her  eagle-bearer  down, 
And  gave  into  his  mighty  hand 
The  symbol  of  her  chosen  land. 


Majestic  monarch  of  the  cloud, 
Who  rear's t  aloft  thy  eagle  form 
To  hear  the  tempest  trumpings  loud, 
And  see  the  lightning  lances  driven, 
When  stride  the  warriors  of  the  storm, 
And  rolls  the  thunder-drum  of  heaven ! 
Child  of  the  Sun !  to  thee  'tis  given 
To  guard  the  banner  of  the  free ! 
To  hover  in  the  sulphur  smoke, 
To  ward  away  the  battle  stroke, 
And  bid  its  blendings  shine  afar, 
Like  rainbows  on  the  cloud  of  war, 
The  harbingers  of  victory. 


in. 

Flag  of  the  brave  !  thy  folds  shall  fly, 
The  sign  of  hope  and  triumph  high  ; 
When  speaks  the  trumpet's  signal  tone 
And  the  long  line  comes  gleaming  on 
Ere  yet  the  life  blood,  warm  and  wet, 
Has  dimmed  the  glistening  bayonet, 
Each  soldier's  eye  shall  brightly  turn 
To  where  thy  sky-born  glories  burn  : 


i 


Griswold's  Poets  and  Pottry  of  America. 


500  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

And  as  his  springy  steps  advance, 

Catch  war  and  vengeance  from  the  glance  ; 

And  when  the  cannon-mouthings  loud 

Heave  in  wild  wreaths  the  battle  shroud, 

And  gory  sabres  rise  and  fall 

Like  shoots  of  flame  on  midnight's  pall, 

Then  shall  thy  meteor-glances  glow, 

And  cowering  foes  shall  sink  beneath 

Each  gallant  arm  that  strikes  below 

That  lovely  messenger  of  death ! 


IV. 

Flag  of  the  seas  I  On  Ocean's  wave, 
Thy  stars  shall  glitter  o'er  the  brave ; 
When  death,  careering  on  the  gale, 
Sweeps  darkly  round  the  bellied  sail, 
And  frighted  waves  rush  wildly  back, 
Before  the  broadsides  reeling  rack 
Each  dying  wanderer  of  the  sea 
Shall  look  at  once  to  heaven  and  thee, 
And  smile  to  see  thy  splendors  fly 
In  triumph  o'er  his  closing  eye. 
Flag  of  the  free  heart's  hope  and  home, 
By  angel's  hands  to  valor  given, 
Thy  stars  have  lit  the  welkin  dome, 
And  all  thy  hues  were  born  in  heaven ! 
Forever  float  that  standard  sheet 
Where  breathes  the  foe  but  falls  before  us 
With  Freedom's  soil  beneath  our  feet, 
And  Freedom's  banner  streaming  o'er  us. 


YE  SONS  OF  COLUMBIA. 

N 

BV  ROBERT  TREAT  PAINE. 

Airt  — "  Anacreon  in  Heaven." 

It  is  more  than  half  a  century  since  the  following  song  was 
written  by  Robert  Treat  Paine  when  it  was  sung  at  a  festival, 
given  in  honor  of  our  national  anniversary,  of  which  it  formed 
a  principal  feature.  Time  has  not  taken  a  single  jot  from  its 
great  and  surpassing  merit  and  it  deserves  to  be  sung  in  all  time 
to  come,  on  all  patriotic  occasions.  A  slight  alteration  from  the 
original  may,  however,  be  detected  in  the  last  verse :  but  it  is 
thus  stripped  of  a  political  allusion,  that  was  never  in  good  taste, 
and  which,  if  we  mistake  not,  was  the  means  of  consigning  the 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  501 

whole  song  to  disuse.  As  it  now  stands,  let  it  be  revived  as  a 
national  song,  and  may  it  go  down  to  posterity,  as  the  noblest 
of  American  strains,  and  worthy  of  being  preserved  in  letters  of 
gold.  We  would  rather  have  our  fame  linked  with  its  authorship, 
than  with  any  other  American  paper,  save  and  except  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence.  Should  this  song  meet  the  eye  of  any 
American,  who  has  a  single  traitorous  thought  of  disunion,  let 
him  read  it  once  more,  and  banish  his  anti-American  feelings 
forever.1 


Ye  sons  of  Columbia,  who  bravely  have  fought 

For  those  right?,  which  unstain'd  from  your  sires  have  descended, 

May  you  long  taste  the  blessings  your  valor  has  bought, 

And  your  sons  reap  the  soil  which  their  fathers  defended  : 

Mid  the  reign  of  mild  peace, 

May  your  nation  increase 

With  the  glory  of  Rome,  and  the  wisdom  of  Greece  ; 
And  ne'er  may  the  sons  of  Columbia  be  slaves, 
While  the  earth  bears  a  plant  or  the  sea  rolls  its  waves ! 


The  fame  of  our  arms,  of  our  laws  the  mild  sway 
Had  justly  ennobled  our  nation  in  story 
Till  the  dark  clouds  of  faction  obscure  our  young  day 
And  enveloped  the  sun  of  American  glory. 
But  let  traitors  be  told 
Who  their  country  have  sold, 
And  bartered  their  God  for  his  image  in  gold, 
That  ne'er  will  the  sons  of  Columbia  be  slaves, 
While  the  earth  bears  a  plant,  or  the  sea  rolls  its  waves ! 


in. 

Our  mountains  are  crowned  with  imperial  oak, 
Whose  roots,  like  our  liberties,  ages  have  nourished  ; 
But  long  e'er  our  country  submits  to  the  yoke, 
Not  a  tree  shall  be  left  on  the  field  where  it  flourished  ; 

Should  invasion  impend 

Every  grove  would  descend 

From  the  hill-tops  it  shaded,  our  shores  to  defend, 
For  ne'er  shall  the  sons  of  Columbia  be  slaves, 
While  the  earth  bears  a  plant,  or  the  sea  rolls  its  waves! 


1  New  York  Globe,  January  6th,  1861. 


502  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

IV. 

Let  our  patriots  destroy  Anarch's  pestilent  worm 
Lest  our  Liberty's  growth  should  be  checked  by  corrosion ; 
Then  let  clouds  thicken  round  us  ;  we  heed  not  the  storm 
Our  realms  fear  no  shock  but  the  earth's  own  explosion. 

Foes  assail  us  in  vain 

Though  their  fleets  bridge  the  main, 
For  our  altars  and  laws,  with  our  lives  we'll  maintain. 
And  ne'er  shall  the  sons  of  Columbia  be  slaves 
While  the  earth  bears  a  plant,  or  the  sea  rolls  its  waves ! 


v. 

Should  the  tempest  of  War  overshadow  our  land, 
Its  bolts  could  ne'er  rend  Freedom's  Temple  assunder ; 
For  unmoved  at  its  portal  would  WASHINGTON  stand, 
And  repulse  with  his  breast,  the  assault  of  its  thunder  ; 

His  sword  from  the  sleep 

Of  its  scabbard  would  leap 

And  conduct  with  its  point,  every  flash  to  the  deep  ! 
For  ne'er  shall  the  sons  of  Columbia  be  slaves, 
While  the  earth  bears  a  plant,  or  the  sea  rolls  its  waves ! 


VI. 

Let  fame  to  the  world  sound  America's  name, 
No  faction  her  sons  from  their  Union  can  sever ; 
Her  freedom  deservedly  meets  with  acclaim, 
And  shall  flourish  till  Liberty  slumbers  forever ; 

Then  unite  heart  and  hand, 

Like  Leonidas*  band, 

And  swear  to  the  God  who  rules  ocean  and  land, 
That  ne'er  shall  the  sons  of  Columbia  be  slaves, 
While  the  earth  bears  a  plant,  or  the  sea  rolls  its  waves !"  l 


1  This  song  was  at  first  entitled  "  ADAMS  AND  LIBERTY  "  and  the  last  verse,  as 
originally  written,  read : 

**  Let  fame  to  the  world  sound  America's  name 
No  intrigues  her  sons  from  their  government  sever 
Her  pride  is  her  ADAMS  ;  her  laws  are  his  choice, 
And  shall  flourish,  till  Liberty  slumbers  forever. 

Then  unite  heart  and  hand 

Like  Leonidas'  band 

And  swear  to  the  God  of  the  ocean  and  land 
That  ne'er  shall  the  sons  of  Columbia  be  slaves, 
While  the  earth  bears  a  plant  or  the  sea  rolls  its  wave." 

Paine  was  paid  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  this  song,  which  included  three 
other  stanzas  (ad,  4th  and  5th),  of  a  temporary  nature  which  have  therefore  been 
omitted.  It  is  related  that  having  finished  the  poem  Paine  exhibited  it  to  some 
gentlemen,  at  the  house  of  a  friend.  His  host  pronounced  it  imperfect  as  the  name 
of  WASHINGTON  was  omitted,  and  declared  he  should  not  approach  the  sideboard  on 
which  bottles  of  wine  had  been  placed  until  he  had  written  an  additional  stanza  : 
The  poet  mused  for  a  moment,  called  for  a  pen  and  wrote  the  verse  beginning  "  Should 
the  tempest  of  iuary  etc." 


FLAG  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  5Q3 


THE  FLAG  OF  OUR  UNION. 


BY  GEORGE  P.  MORRIS 


A  song  for  our  banner,  the  watchword  recall 
Which  gave  the  republic  her  station, 
"  United  we  stand  —  divided  we  fall !" 
It  made  and  preserves  us  a  nation, 
The  union  of  lakes,  the  union  of  lands, 
The  Union  of  States  none  can  sever ! 
The  Union  of  hearts,  the  union  of  hands 
And  the  Flag  of  our  Union  forever  and  ever, 
The  Flag  of  our  Union  forever ! 


ii. 


What  God  in  his  infinite  wisdom  designed, 
And  armed  with  republican  thunder, 
Not  all  the  earth's  despots  and  factions  combined 
Have  the  power  to  conquer  or  sunder 
The  Union  of  lakes,  the  Union  of  lands, 
The  Union  of  States  none  can  sever ! 
The  Union  of  hearts,  the  union  of  hands, 
And  the  Flag  of  our  Union  forever  and  ever, 
The  Flag  of  our  Union  for  ever ! 


To  CANAAN. 


BY  OLIVER  WENDELL  HOLMES. 

A  song  of  the  Six  Hundred  Thousand 

This  poem  was  first  published  in  the  Boston  Transcript  on  the 
1 2th  of  August,  1862.  It  had  no  date  or  signature,  but  was 
sent  forth  as  a  waif  by  Mr.  Holmes,  to  see  if  it  had  sufficient 
merit  to  attract  attention  from  the  press.  It  was  at  once  copied 
into  the  Rebellion  Record  by  Frank  Moore,  the  editor,  who 
reported  its  publication,  as  original  in  newspapers  in  western 
New  York,  Ohio,  and  Illinois,  and  that  a  controversy  arose 
between  two  of  the  western  writers  claiming  it  as  original.  On 


504  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

the  25th  of  June,  1866,  the  Boston  Transcript  republished  the 
poem  from  its  files. 

Mr.  Holmes x  in  a  recent  letter  says  : 

"  To  Canaan"  was  published  anonymously  in  the  Transcript. 
As  nearly  as  I  remember  I  talked  with  Mr.  Fields  about  it,  and 
we  agreed  that  it  was  best  to  publish  it  at  once  and  not  wait 
for  the  Atlantic,  in  which  I  commonly  printed  my  poems. 
Mr.  Richard  Grant  White  informed  me  that  several  persons 
had  claimed  the  poem,  and  gave  me  their  names,  three  of  them 
I  think.  It  was  reprinted  in  the  Transcript  a  few  years  ago,  I 
forget  whether  with  my  name  or  not.  I  mentioned  the  fact  that 
I  wrote  it,  in  a  public  lecture  on  the  poetry  of  the  war,  and 
have  heard  nothing  of  the  three  pick-pockets  since.  The  date 
of  its  publication,  for  the  first  time,  in  the  Transcript,  has  escaped 
me  but  that  too  can  be  very  easily  found.  It  must  have  been 
quite  early,  as  I  speak  of  the  colored  troops  as  being  armed  with 
picks  and  spades." 

Where  are  you  going,  soldiers, 

With  banner,  gun,  and  sword  ? 
We're  marching  South,  to  Canaan 

To  battle  for  the  Lord ! 
What  Captain  leads  your  armies 

Along  the  rebel  coasts  ? 
The  Mighty  One  of  Israel ! 

His  name  is  Lord  of  Hosts, 

To  Canaan !    To  Canaan ! 

The  Lord  has  led  us  forth 
To  blow  before  the  heathen  walls 

The  trumpet  of  the  North. 


What  flag  is  this  you  carry 

Along  the  sea  and  shore  ? 
The  same  our  grandsires  lifted  up, 

The  same  our  fathers  bore ! 
In  many  a  battle's  tempest 

It  shed  the  crimson  rain  ; 
What  God  has  woven  in  his  loom 

Let  no  man  rend  in  twain  ! 

To  Canaan  !  to  Canaan  ! 

The  Lord  has  led  us  forth 
To  plant  upon  the  rebel  towers, 

The  banner  of  the  North. 


O.  W.  H.  to  G.  H,   P.,  April,  14,  1872. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  5Q5 

What  troop  is  this  that  follows, 

All  armed  with  picks  and  spades  ? 
These  are  the  swarthy  bondsmen 

The  iron-skin  brigades  ; 
They'll  pile  up  Freedom's  breastwork, 

They'll  scoop  out  rebePs  graves, 
Who  then  will  be  their  owner 

And  march  them  off  for  slaves  ? 

To  Canaan !  to  Canaan  ! 

The  Lord  has  led  us  forth 
To  strike  upon  the  captive  chain 

The  hammers  of  the  North, 


What  song  is  this  you're  singing  ? 

The  same  that  Israel  sung, 
When  Moses  led  the  mighty  choir. 

And  Miriam's  timbrel  rung ; 

To  Canaan !   to  Canaan  ! 

The  priests  and  maidens  cried, 
To  Canaan!  to  Canaan  1 

The  people's  voice  replied. 
To  Canaan !  to  Canaan ! 

The  Lord  has  led  us  forth 
To  thunder  through  its  adder-dens 

The  anthems  of  the  North. 


When  Canaan's  hosts  are  scattered, 

And  all  her  walls  lie  flat, 
What  follows  next  in  order  ? 

The  Lord  will  see  to  that ! 
We'll  break  the  tyrant's  sceptre 

We'll  build  the  people's  throne, 
When  half  the  world  is  Freedom's, 

Then  all  the  world's  our  own ! 

To  Canaan !  to  Canaan  ! 

The  Lord  has  sent  us  forth 
To  sweep  the  rebel  threshing-floors, 

A  whirlwind  from  the  North. 


64 


506  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

COLUMBIA  THE  GEM  OF  THE  OCEAN. 

BY  THOMAS  A.  BECKET. 

This  song  as  sung  at  Boston,  New  York,  and  Philadelphia 
concerts,  was  copyrighted  and  published  in  1843,  by  George 
Willig,  of  Philadelphia,  under  the  title  of  "  Columbia  the  Land  of 
the  Brave,  written  and  composed  by  David  T.  Shaw."  It  is 
now  published  from  the  original  plates  (with  the  addition  of  an 
illustrated  title)  by  Lee  and  Walker,  the  successors  of  Mr. 
Willig,  under  the  title  of  "  Columbia  the  Gem  of  the  Ocean,  ar- 
ranged by  T.  A.  Becket,  Esq.,  and  dedicated  to  John  S.  Du- 
Solle"  It  has  been  printed  in  the  Boy's  Banner  Book  and  other 
collections  of  popular  songs,  under  the  title  of  The  Red,  White 
and  Blue,  without  having  the  author's  name  attached,  and  is  often 
familiarly  called  The  Army  and  Navy  Song  from  its  being  pecu- 
liarly adapted  to  the  reunions  of  the  two  services. 

With  such  variations  as  necessary  to  suit  circumstances  it 
is  popular  in  England  under  the  title  of  the  c  Red  White  and 
Blue  '  and  c  Britannia  the  Pride  of  the  Ocean.9  Some  have  even 
supposed  the  English  version  the  original,  and  ours  merely  an 
adaptation  from  it.  Its  title,  the  Gem  of  the  Ocean,  belongs 
of  right  to  the  Emerald  Isle,  rather  than  to  Columbia,  and 
seems  more  appropriate  to  designate  an  island  power  like  Great 
Britain  or  Britannia  than  a  continental  power  like  the  United 
States.  While  red,  white  and  blue  have  for  a  long  time  been  the 
ranking  order  of  the  colors  of  British  national  ensigns,  and  the 
flags  of  the  admirals  of  the  Royal  Navy,  while  with  us  blue,  the 
blue  of  the  union,  the  firmament  of  our  constellation  of  stars, 
claims  the  first  place  on  our  colors,  red  the  second,  and  white 
the  third  ;  so  that  for  us  the  song  should  read,  borne  by  the  blue, 
red  and  white,  instead  of  red,  white  and  blue.1  These  lapses  are 
explained  by  the  confession  of  the  author  that  he  is  an  English- 
man by  birth  ;  it  was  natural  he  should  make  them.  Though 
written  by  an  Englishman,  the  song  is  clearly  of  American  incep- 
tion and  origin,  as  is  swown  by  the  following  letter  written  in 
1864,  by  the  author  : 

"Chicago,  October  19,  1864. 
"  Messrs.  Root  and  Cady. 

"  Gentlemen  :  Permit  me  to  give  you  the  history  of  Columbia  the 
Gem  of  the  Ocean.     In  1843,  Mr.  D.  F.  Shaw  (then  a  concert 

1  See  plate  x,  navy  Distinguishing  flags,  1776,  1869. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  5Q7 

singer  at  the  Chinese  Museum,  Philadelphia),  waited  upon  me 
at  the  Chestnut  Street  Theatre,  with  a  request  that  I  would 
write  him  a  song  for  his  benefit  night,  producing  at  the  same  time 
some  poetry  with  the  above  title  which  he  claimed  as  his  own 
composition. 

On  reading  it  I  found  the  measure  so  defective  as  to  be  en- 
tirely unfit  to  set  to  music.  We  adjourned  to  the  house  of  a 
friend  (Mr.  Richard  Harbord,  Decatur  street),  where  I  wrote  the 
two  first  verses  in  pencil^  and  at  Miss  Harbord's  piano  I  com- 
posed the  melody  ;  Shaw  was  much  pleased  with  it  and  we 
parted.  On  reaching  home  I  added  the  third  verse,  wrote  the 
symphonies,  and  arranged  the  song  for  the  piano  forte.  The 
next  day  I  gave  Mr.  Shaw  a  fair  copy  in  ink,  with  the  injunction 
that  he  should  not  publish,  give  or  sell  a  copy.  The  song  im- 
mediately became  popular.  In  a  few  weeks  afterwards,  I  left 
Philadelphia  to  fulfil  an  engagement  in  New  Orleans,  and  was 
much  surprised  during  my  stay  in  that  city  to  see  a  published 
copy  of  my  song.  On  my  return  I  upbraided  Shaw  for  having 
broken  faith  with  me.  He  answered  that  the  song  had  become 
so  popular  he  thought  it  advantageous  to  us  both  to  publish  it, 
and  that  he  had  sent  me  a  hundred  copies  by  Mr.  Plummer. 
This  Mr.  Plummer  indignantly  denied. 

"I  immediately  waited  upon  Mr.  Willig  the  publisher,  who  in- 
formed me  he  had  purchased  the  song  of  Shaw.  I  showed  him 
(Mr.  Willig)  the  original  pencil  copy,  and  claimed  the  copyright. 
I  then  proceeded  to  Mr.  T.  Osbourne,  music  publisher,  Third 
street  above  Walnut  street,  and  made  an  agreement  with  him 
to  publish  the  song  in  partnership,  and  in  less  than  a  week  the 
song  was  placed  before  the  public,  under  its  proper  title,  viz., 
"  Columbia  the  Gem  of  the  Ocean,  written  and  composed  by  Thomas 
A*  Becket  and  sung  by  David  T.  Shaw." 

"  Mr.  E.  L.  Davenport,  the  eminent  tragedian,  took  the  song 
to  London,  where  he  sung  it  nightly  for  some  weeks.  It  be- 
came popular,  and  was  published  (without  authority),  by  T.  Wil- 
liams, Cheapside,  under  the  title  of  Britannia  the  Gem  of  the 
Ocean.  I  visited  London,  in  1847,  anc*  f°und  tne  song 
claimed  as  an  English  composition  (perhaps  it  is,  I  being  an 
Englishman  by  birth).  During  my  absence  Osbourne  gave  up 
business,  and  the  plates  of  the  song  were  sold  ;  thus  the  song 
went  out  of  my  possession. 

"  I  am,  gentleman,  Yours,  etc. 

u  THOMAS  A.  BECKEX,* 

"  Woods's  Museum,  Chicago." 


1  This  is  part  of  Mr.  Becket's  signature,  author  of  Columbia  the  Gem  of  the  Ocean. 
He  died  upon  the  Battlefield^  etc. 


508  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

Mr.  Becket  has  retired  from  the  stage,  and  is  living  in  Phi- 
ladelphia where  he  is  a  teacher  of  music.  I  am  indebted  to 
him,  through  the  instrumentality  of  Mr.  McAllister,  for  a  copy 
of  his  letter  claiming  the  authorship  of  this  song. 

The  song  under  the  title,  The  Red^  White  and  Blue  is  printed 
in  J.  E.  Carpenter's  New  Naval  and  Military  Song  Book^  pub- 
lished in  London,  1866,  "as  written  and  composd  by  D.  T.  Shaw, 
U.  S.  A."  The  first  line  is  altered  to  read  Britannia  the  Pride 
of  the  Ocean,  and  in  the  third  line  of  the  last  verse,  the  name  of 
Nelson  is  inserted  in  place  of  Washington. 

The  name  and  the  idea  of  the  song  from  Mr.  Becket' s  state- 
ment seems  to  have  originated  with  David  T.  Shaw,  but  the 
words,  and  music,  as  printed  and  sung,  were  written  and  com- 
posed by  Becket. 

i. 

Oh,  Columbia  the  gem  of  the  ocean, 

The  home  of  the  brave  and  the  free ; 
The  shrine  of  each  patriot's  devotion, 

A  world  offers  homage  to  thee. 
Thy  mandates  make  heroes  assemble 

When  liberty's  form  stands  in  view ; 
Thy  banners  make  tyranny  tremble, 

When  borne  by  the  red,  white  and  blue. 

Chorus. 

When  borne  by  the  red,  white  and  blue, 
When  borne  by  the  red,  white  and  blue, 

Thy  banners  make  tyranny  tremble 
When  borne  by  the  red,  white  and  blue. 


n. 

When  war  waged  its  wide  desolation, 

And  threatened  our  land  to  deform, 
The  ark  then  of  freedom's  foundation, 

Columbia  rode  safe  through  the  storm, 
With  her  garland  of  victory  o'er  her, 

When  so  proudly  she  bore  her  bold  crew, 
With  her  flag  proudly  floating  before  her, 

The  boast  of  the  red,  white  and  blue. 

Chorus. 

The  boast  of  the  red,  white  and  blue, 
The  boast  of  the  red,  white  and  blue, 

With  her  flag  proudly  floating  before  her, 
The  boast  of  the  red,  white  and  blue. 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  509 


in. 

The  wine  cup,  the  wine  eup  bring  hither, 

And  fill  you  it  up  to  the  brim, 
May  the  memory  of  Washington  ne'er  wither, 

Nor  the  star  of  his  glory  grow  dim. 
May  the  service  united  ne'er  sever 

And  each  to  our  colors  prove  true, 
The  army  and  navy  forever, 

Three  cheers  for  the  red,  white  and  blue. 

Chorus. 

Three  cheers  for  the  red,  white  and  blue 
Three  cheers  for  the  red,  white  and  blue 

The  army  and  navy  forever, 
Three  cheers  for  the  red,  white  and  blue. 


AMERICA. 

BY  SAMUEL  FRANCIS  SMITH,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  Francis  Smith,  D.D.,  the  author  of  this  anthem, 
which  the  war  of  the  rebellion  has  made  national,  was  born  in 
Boston,  Oct.  21,  1808,  and  graduated  from  Harvard  University 
in  the  class  of  '29,  with  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes.  He  is  there- 
fore one  of  "  The  boys  of  the  class  of  29."  He  studied  theology 
at  Andover,  and  is  now  a  professor  at  Newton,  Mass.  He  has 
been  a  constant  and  frequent  contributor  from  early  youth  to 
periodical  literature  and  has  been  editor  of  one  or  more  religious 
magazines.  My  Country  'tis  of  thee,  and  The  Morning  Light  is 
Breaking,  are  among  his  early  productions.  The  first  was 
written  with  no  thought  of  its  ever  acquiring  the  national 
character  it  has  since  attained.  The  air  of  God  save  the  King, 
to  which  the  words  of  My  Country  'tis  of  thee  are  adapted,  has 
been  ascribed  to  Handel,  to  Henry  Carey,  who  composed  the 
once  celebrated  song  Sally  in  our  Alley,  to  Doct.  John  Bull,  and 
to  others.  Doct.  Burney  maintains  it  was  composed  for  the  chapel 
of  James  II.,  but  some  one  else  contends  it  well  adapts  itself 
to  the  events  of  the  reign  of  George  II,  and  that  the  words  that 
have  ever  formed  the  first  line,  "  God  save  great  George,  viz  :  our 
King,"  (not  great  James,  great  Charles,  great  Cromwell,  great 
William  and  Mary,  nor  Great  Anne  our  Queen),  seem  to  indicate 
that  in  its  adaptation  at  least  it  was  an  occasional  hymn  written 
in  honor  of  the  later,  and  glorious  days  of  the  second  George 


510  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE 

after  Pitt  had  taken  the  helm.  In  Germany  it  is  called  Bundes 
Lied.  God  save  the  King  appeared  originally  In  the  Gentleman's 
Magazine  for  Oct.  1745,  on  the  occasion  of  the  landing  of  the 
Pretender.  Doct.  Thos.  A.  Arne,  author  of  Artaxerxes,  ar- 
ranged it  in  two  parts. 

Laveller  in  his  Histoire  de  la  Mat  son  Roy  ale  de  St.  Cyr  says 
it  was  composed  by  Lulli,  and  was  first  sung  when  Louis  XIV 
visited  in  state  for  the  first  time  Madame  Maintenon's  school  of 
St.  Cyr.  The  words  by  Madame  de  Brinon,  the  principal  of 
St.  Cyr,  commenced  thus : 

"  Grand  Dieu,  Sauvuer  a  Roi ! 
Grand  Dieu,  vengez  le  Roi ! 

Vive  le  Roi, 
Qu'a  jamais  glorieux 
Louis  victorieux 
Voya  ses  ennemies 

Toujours  soumis,  etc." 


There  certainly  must  be  something  more  than  ordinarily  in- 
spiring in  an  air  which  has  struck  the  popular  heart  of  four 
tanions. 

The  Rev.  Doctor  Smith  since  the  foregoing  was  written,  has 
furnished  me  with  the  following  history  of  the  origin  of  this 
anthem. 


"12  Bedford  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 

"September  12,  1872. 


"  Capt.  Geo.  Henry  Preble,  U.  S.  N. 

"  Dear  Sir  :  The  origin  of  my  hymn,  My  Country  'tis  of  Thee, 
is  briefly  told.  In  the  year  1831,  Mr.  William  C.  Woodbridge 
returned  from  Europe  bringing  a  quantity  of  German  music 
books,  which  he  passed  over  to  Lowell  Mason.  Mr.  Mason 
with  whom  I  was  on  terms  of  friendship,  one  day  turned  them 
over  to  me,  knowing  that  I  was  in  the  habit  of  reading  German 
works,  saying,  "  Here,  I  can't  read  these  but  they  contain  good 
music,  which  I  should  be  glad  to  use.  Turn  over  the  leaves 
and  if  you  find  anything  particularly  good,  give  me  a  translation 
or  imitation  of  it,  or  write  a  wholly  original  song,  anything,  so  I 
can  use  it." 

"  Accordingly,  one  leisure  afternoon,  I  was  looking  over  the 
books  and  fell  in  with  the  tune  of  God  save  the  King,  and  at 
once  took  up  my  pen  and  wrote  the  piece  in  question.  It  was 
struck  out  at  a  sitting  without  the  slightest  idea  that  it  would 
ever  attain  the  popularity  it  has  since  enjoyed.  I  think  it  was 
written  in  the  town  of  Andover,  Mass.,  in  Feb.,  1832.  The 
first  time  it  was  sung  publicly,  was  at  a  children's  celebration  of 


FLAG  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  5H 

American  Independence  at  the  Park  St.  Church,  Boston,  I  think 
July  4,  1832.  If  I  had  anticipated  the  future  of  it,  doubtless 
I  would  have  taken  more  pains  with  it.  Such  as  it  is  I  am  glad 
to  have  contributed  this  mite  to  the  cause  of  American  freedom. 

"  Very  sincerely  yours, 

"  S.  F.  SMITH." 


My  country,  'tis  of  thee, 
Sweet  land  of  liberty. 

Of  thee  I  sing ; 
Land  where  my  father  died, 
Land  of  the  pilgrims'  pride, 
From  every  mountain  side, 

Let  freedom  ring. 

ii. 

My  native  country,  thee, 
Land  of  the  noble  free — 

Thy  name  I  love  ; 
I  love  thy  rocks  and  rills, 
Thy  woods  and  templed  hills  ; 
My  heart  with  rapture  thrills 

Like  that  above. 

in. 

Let  music  swell  the  breeze, 
And  ring  from  all  the  trees, 

Sweet  freedom's  song  ; 
Let  mortal  tongues  awake, 
Let  all  that  breathe  partake, 
Let  rocks  their  silence  break, 

The  sound  prolong. 

IV. 

Our  father's  God,  to  thee, 
Author  of  liberty, 

To  thee  I  sing  ; 
Long  may  our  land  be  bright 
With  freedom's  holy  light  ; 
Protect  us  by  thy  might, 

Great  God  our  King. 


ERRATA. 

Page     24,  For  "  principla"  read  principle. 
"       "     For  *  Guide  honores'  read  guide-hommes. 
"        33>  For  '  Ensign  staff  at  poop'  read  at  the  poop. 
11        "     For  *  devices  scattered'  read  devices  are  scattered. 
"        34,  For  *  coach  ship  pennant'  read  coach  whip  pennant. 
"        50,  For  *  Baron  Tolt's  memoirs  of  his  own  Time'  read  Baron  Totfs  Memoirs 

of  the  Turks  and  Tartars  1785. 

"        60,  For  <  and  the  wings  restored'  read  and  the  mings  restored. 
"        62,  Strike  out  *  worn'  after  and,  and  insert  it  between  is  and  on,  on  the  next 

line. 

"       70,  For  «  Officers'  read  authorities. 

"        80,  For  '  A  sun,  or,  two  anchors,'  read  a  Sun  on  two  anchors. 
"        84,  For  <  Henry  III.'  read  Henry  VII. 

"  98,  Insert  between  '  blue  merged  ;'  the  word  were,  and  alter  last  two  lines  of 
the  paragraph  so  as  to  read  the  jlag  of  the  'white  ensign  blazoned  with  a  red 
cross  for  a  distinguishing  flag. 

"     156,  For  « Dutch  East  India  Flag'  read  Dutch  West  India  Flag. 
"      176,  For  'independence  was  declared'  read  was  proclaimed. 
"     182,  Correction  to  note  2d.      The  members  of  the  first  troop   Philadelphia  City 
Cavalry  claim  that  they  have  always  known  and  appreciated  the  value  of 
their  standard  in  the  History  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 
tl      192,  On  5th  line  for  'has  been  published'  read  have. 
**     260,  last  line  but  one  for  '  there  ten'  read  there  are  ten. 
"     283,  last  line  for  '  Austug'  read  August. 
"     285,  First  line  of  note  for  '  May  1861,'  read  May,  1831. 
Correction  to  Plate  I.     The  lithographer   having  lost  the   original  drawing  of  the 
revenue  pendant  of  1871,  furnished  me  from  the  treasury  department,  he  made  a 
mistake,  which  was  not  discovered  until  all  were  printed  and  it  was  too  late  to  have 
it  corrected.     The  stars  should  be  blue  on  a  white  ground  and  the  tail  of  the  pennant 
like  the  one  that  had  been  in  use  since  1797. 


65 


INDEX. 


Abu,  Beker,  51. 

Abu,  Obiedeh,  51. 

Achias,  King  of  Scotland,  479. 

Achievement  of  American  squadron, 
first  in  1776,  170. 

Act,  establishing   the  flag  of  the   U.  S., 

1818,255. 

for  preservation  of  trophy  flags,  1814, 
241. 

Adams,  Chas.  Francis,  447. 

Adams,  Hon.  John,  145,  151,  169,  171, 
190,  288,  475,  481  j  against  dis- 
union, 289. 

Adams,  John  Quincy,  190,  273. 

Adams,  Mr.  Saml.  145,  1 60. 

Adel,  Mons.,  230. 

Admission  of  the  States  to  the  Union,  the 
date  of,  260. 

Aitkin,  (engraver),  187. 

Alabama,  secedes,  292  ;   State  [flag,  388. 

Alaska,  formal  transfer  of,  to  the  U.  S., 
448. 

Aldatrand,  108. 

Alden,  Comm.  James,  470. 

Alexander  I,  of  Scotland,  20. 

Alexander  II,  Pope,  29,  78. 

Alexander  the  Great,  43,  no. 

Alfred,  ship  flag  of,  1776,  1 66. 

Alfred  the  Great,  64. 

Ali,  51. 

Allard,  Carl,  155. 

Alliance,  colors  of,  1779,  167. 

Alliance  with  France,  celebrated,  203. 

Alofsen,    S.,  258. 

Alverada,  57. 

Alvicano,  standard  of,  64. 

American  bunting,  first  flag,  made  of,  259. 

America,  early  discoveries  of,  103  ;  first 
banner  planted  on  the  shores  of,  103  ; 
flag  of  U.  S.,  first  raised  on  board  by 
Paul  Jones, ;  flag  of,  raised  by  Paul 
Jones,  1 60  ;  freedom  of  U.  S.  of, 
declared,  176;  fleet  signals,  1776, 
1625  Prophecy  of,  102. 

American  Flag,  the,  498  j  at  White  Plains, 
1776,  177  5  buried,  399  j  first  made, 
by  Mrs.  Ross,  193. 


American  Fleet,  sailing  of  the  first,  1776, 
170  j  yacht  club,  name  of,  488. 

Americus  Vespucius,  in. 

Amidas,  Philip,  114. 

Amurath  in,  51. 

Anderson,  Col.  E.  C.  400. 

Anderson,  Doctor,  206. 

Anderson,  Mrs.  Robt,  334. 

Anderson,  Major  Robt.,  311,  312,  313, 
314,  315,  316,  319,  320,  321,  322, 
3*3,  3*4,  3*5,  3*9,  33',  33*,  334, 
335,  356,  837,  338,  339,  340,  34i, 
34^,  343,  344,  346,  353,  4*3- 

Andrea  Dorea,  first  to  obtain  a  salute  to 
the  flag  from  a  foreign  power,  174. 

Andrean,  Hon.  W.  C.,  316. 

Andrew,  Gov.  J.  A.  speech  on  receiving 
flags  of  Mass.  Regts.,  360,  361,432, 

434,  436- 

Andrews,  Col.,  274. 
Andros,  Gov.,  Sir  Ed.,  123,  125. 
Anecdotes  and  incidents,  concerning  our 

flag,  since  the  war,  1865,  1872,  446. 
Anglo  Saxon,  banners,  &c.,  77. 
Anne,  Queen,  77,  89,  96. 
Antrochus  VII  of  Syria,  28. 
Appleton,  William,  497. 
Appleton,  Wm.  Stuart,  497. 
Application  for  a  yacht  commission,  488. 
Armistead,  Genl.,  496,  497. 
Artois,  Count  of,  75. 
Armitage,  Rev.  Doct.,  353. 
Arms  of  U.  S.,  in  St.  Paul's  chapel,  N. 

Y.,  480. 

Armstrong,  Genl.,  256,  259. 
Armstrong,  John,  240. 
Army  of  U.  S.  corps,  badges  allowed   to 

be  worn,  479  ;   flags  colors,  standard 

of,  &c.,473. 

Arnold,  Benedict,  153,  154. 
Arnold,  Genl.,  140. 
Arnold,  Mr.,  187. 
Arnold,  Mrs.  James,  379. 
Arrangement  of  stars  in  U.  S.  flag,  259, 

288. 
Arrival    first    Pacific    mail     steamer,    in 

China,  446. 


516 


INDEX. 


Arthur,  aboriginal  Prince  of  Britain,  84. 
Arthur,  Capt.  James  V.,  269,  270. 
Arthur,  King,  badge  assigned  to   78. 
Artillery  of  U.  S.,  colors  of,  473. 
Asher,  Doctor,  a  German  writer,  113. 
Assyrians,  standard  of,  44. 
Atlanta,  iron  clad,  the   first  to   hoist  the 

second  confederate  ensign,  421. 
Audubon,  386. 
Aubigny,  Sieur  de,  75. 
Attilla,  standard  of,  55. 
Auriflamme,   description  of,    725   origin 

of,  11. 

Austrian  standards  and  flags,  67. 
Ayesha,  wife  of  Mahomet,  51. 
Ayres,  Capt.  John,  141. 

Bacon,  Sir  Nicholas,  21. 

Baggeley,  Mr.,  278. 

Bailey,  G.  S.,  451. 

Bailey,  Rear  Admiral,  369,  444. 

Bainbridge,  Capt.  W.,  237,  238,   239. 

Baker,  Senator,  E.  D.,  308,  351. 

Baker,  Geo.  H.,  431. 

Balboa,  Vasco  Nunez  de,  65,  66 ;  flag 
of,  66. 

Baldwin,  Earle  of  Flanders,  29. 

Baldwin  I,  of  Jerusalem,  40. 

Bancroft,  Hon.  Geo.,  145,  153. 

Banner,  first  planted  on  shore  of  America, 
103 ;  Harry  Grace  de  Dieu,  (Great 
Harry),  32;  State  flag,  388. 

Banners,  Anglo  Saxon,  Saxon,  &c.,  77  j 
and  bannerets,  borne  at  funerals,  22, 
23  ;  at  the  seige  of  Claverock,  195 
of  English  sovereigns,  77 ;  of  Ad- 
miral of  the  fleet,  30;  of  Henry  V., 
83  ;  of  Henry  VI.,  83  ;  of  hospital- 
lers of  St.  John,  of  Jerusalem,  41  j 
of  John  Dreux,  Earl  of  Richmond, 
22;  of  Pulaski,  165  derivation  of 
the  name,  18;  farms  of,  19;  origin 
of,  19;  of  the  knights  of  the  Gultia 
and  Bath,  22  ;  of  English  nobles,  22  ; 
of  Queen  Elizabeth,  325  of  Robert 
de  la  Mask,  76;  of  sovereign  of  the 
seas,  83;  of  St.  Cuthbert,  87;  of 
St.  Dennis,  72  ;  of  St.  Edmund,  78  5 
of  St.  Edward,  the  confessor,  80 ; 
of  Simon  De  Montfort,  23  ;  of  the 
S.  ^Convention,  384;  of  Venetian 
galleys,  34 ;  of  white,  (Cornette 
Blanche),  adoption  of,  72  ;  presented 
to  Charlemagne  by  the  Pope,  70 ; 
sacred  of  Clovis,  71. 

Bannerets  borneat  funerals,  22,  23  ;  last 
created,  22  ;  of  Oliver  Cromwell  24  ; 
where  first  instituted,  21. 


Banners  of  masonic  knighthood,  39  ;  of 

ships  consecrated,  29  ;  of  the  S.  C., 

385;  on  board  of  ship,  30. 
Barbara  Freitchie,  story  of,  378. 
Barbarosa,  North  German  flag,  descended 

from,  69. 

Barkhead,  Lieut ,   389. 
Barlow,  Arthur,  114. 
Barlow,  Genl.  F.  S.,  397. 
Barnard,  Capt.,  274. 

Hoisted  our  flag  on  Chapultepec,  274. 
Barnard,  M.,  212. 
Barney,   Com.  Joshua,   1 68,  226,   2275 

flag  of,  1 68. 
Barnum,  P.  T.,  206. 
Barrett,  Thos.,  48 1 . 
Barrow,  Mr.  (sailor),  389. 
Barry,  Capt.,  161,  169,  170,  196,  205. 
Barry,  J.,  151. 

Bartlett,  Hon.  J.  R.,  164,  208. 
Bartlett,  Mr.,  145. 
Barton,  Hon.,  Mr.,  of  Georgia,  392. 
Barton,  W.,  476,  477,  479;   proposes  a 

device  for  the  U.  S.  Army,  476. 
Battle  flag,  the  southern  origin  of,  400. 
Battle  of  Long  Island,  incidents,  176. 
Battle,  signal  for,  46. 
Bayeux  tapestry,  some  account  of,  26. 
Bear  flag  hoisted  in  California,  272. 
Beauceant,  origin  and  description  of,  40. 
Beauchamp,  Richard,  31. 
Beaumont,  John,  Jr.,  129,  155. 
Beauregard,  Gen.  G.  T.,  330,  331,  335, 

336>  337>  340,  34i,  342,  395»4oo, 

402,403,405,406,  416,420. 
Becket,  Thos.  A.,  506,  507,  508. 
Bedford,  Duke  of,  1 28. 
Bedford,  incidents  of  ship,  212. 
Beck,  Lieut.,  death  of,  144. 
Beecher,  Henry  Ward,  180,  847  j  on  the 

flag,    1 80. 
Beginning   of  the    war  against   our  flag 

and  union,  289,  310. 
Belgian  standard  and  flag,  68. 
Belknap,  132. 
Bell,  Capt.  H.  H.,  368. 
Bell,  Adelaide,  the  ship,  364. 
Bell,  Isaac,  of  Mobile,  364. 
Bentalon,  Capt.,  17. 
Bentley,  Samuel,  232,  233. 
Berceau,  and  FTnswigents,  colors  of,  244 
Berkeley,  Earl  of,  13. 
Bernard,  Gov»,  136. 
Bernard  of  Saints,  225. 
Berry,  Mr.,  (master  mate),  1 66. 
Bertling,  Widow,  493. 
Bess,  Queen,  85. 
Bessie,  Capt.,  279. 


INDEX. 


517 


Bethune,  Doct.,  353. 

Bheesama,  obtains  the  banner  of  Arjoona, 

62. 
Biarne's    expeditions    to    New    England, 

etc.,  104. 

BIddle,  Capt.  Nicholas,  174,  204. 
Biddle,  Owen,  to  provide  a  seal,  184. 
Bierstadt,    E.,  superintendent  of  Photo- 
plate  Printing  Co.,  164. 
Bigelow,  Lt.  Commander,  267,  370. 
Bigelow,  Major,  140. 
Bird,  Lieut,  200. 
Blake,  Admiral,  97. 
Black   Prince,  21,  25,  81,  82  j  crest  of, 

82  ;  device  of,  81 
Blunt,  Geo.  W.  321,  322. 
Boggs,  Commander,    268. 
Boggs,  Miss  Margaret,  193. 
Bogg,  Rev.  Mr.,  358. 
Bohemia,  king  of,  82 
Boniface  VIII,  Pope,  30. 
Booth,  Wm.  Mayor,  375. 
Brooke,  Mr.  of  Mississippi,  390. 
Boreas,  Bernard,  possessor  of   the  flag  of 

Elba  73. 

Bombardment,  of  Sumter,  331,  333- 
Borromi  and  Wilkinson,  28. 
Boston,  flags  at,  1728,  131. 
Botta  extract  from  writings  of,  28,  152. 
Boudinot,    Mr.  222,  479. 
Boughton,  Capt.  Nicholas,  140,  142. 
Bourbon,   Duke  de,  Charles  III,  standard 

of,  76. 
Boutwell,  Chas.  97,  83,  82,  81,  80,  73, 

70,  69,  26. 

Boutwell,  Hon.  Geo.  S.,  488. 
Boyce,  W.  W.  391,    392. 
Boyle,  Mons.    225. 
Boynton,  Rev.  S.  C..  321. 
Bradbury,  Wm.  B.,  346. 
Braddock,  Gen.,  394. 
Bradford,  Capt.  J.,  161. 
Bradford,  Mrs.  496. 
Bragg,  Capt.  Henry  M.,  343. 
Bragg,  Gen.,  in  council  with  JefF  Davis, 

373- 

Brahma,  63. 
Brandt,  C.  D.,  439,  441. 
Breckenridge,  Gen.  John  C.,  414. 
Breckenridge,  Mrs.   J.  C.,   makes   a  flag 

of  her  wedding  dress,  414. 
Breckenridge,  Vice  President,  J.  C.,  307. 
Brewer,  Mr.,  319. 
Briggs,  David,  215. 
Bringhurst,  Corporal  C.,  335. 
British  distinguishing  flags,  &c.,  of  orders 

relative  to,  98;  early  standards,  77. 
British  vessels,  flags  of,  at  Annapolis,  244. 


British  union  flag,  origin,  119. 

Brooks,  Lieut.,  Wm.  S.,  373. 

Brooke,  and  Nicoll,  Messrs.,  127. 

Brower,  John,  164. 

Brown,  David  Paul,  177. 

Browne,  Richard,  complaint  of,  120. 

Brownlow,  Parson,  374. 

Bryant  &  Sturgis,  269. 

Buchanan,  Admiral,  445. 

Buchanan,  James,  290,  293,  299,  309, 

323  ;   apologizes  to  Tyler,  293. 
Buckingham,  Duke  of,  13. 
Buell,  Gen.,  441. 
Bulfinch,  Mr.,  219,  220,  221. 
Bull,  Doct  John,  509. 
Bunker,  Capt.  Geo.,  221. 
Bunker  Hill,  flag  of,  138;  flag  of,  138; 

monument,  our  flag  hoisted  on,  360. 
Burchett,  J.,  127. 
Burgess's  Will,  map  of  Boston,  131;  flags, 

on,  131. 

Burgoyne,  General,  189,  203,  242. 
Burgundy,  Phillip  the  Bold  of,  75. 
Burke,  Capt.  W.,  141. 
Burke,  (Heraldist),  19. 
Burkhardt,  51. 
Burney,  Doct.,  509. 
Burns,  Sergeant,  367. 
Burnside,  Gen.,  434. 
Burr,  Capt.,  143. 
Burton  and  Trumbull,  215. 
Bushnell,  C.  I.,  164, 165. 
Butler,  Hon.  Benjn.  F.,  259,  260,   366, 

368,  369. 


Cabots,  the,   109,   in,   112,   113,  114, 

"5- 

Cadwallader,  84. 

Caesar,  45,  48. 

Caesar,  Augustus,  46. 

Caldwell,  Comm.,  196. 

Caldwell,  Isaac,  274. 

Caldwell,  Col.  Geo.  Alfred,  274,  275. 

Calhoun,  John  C.,  384,  885. 

Callen,  Nicholas,  495. 

Cambridge,  Richard,  Duke  of,  82. 

Cameron,  Simon,  326. 

Campbell,  Capt.,  161. 

Camp  colors,  U.  S.  Army,  473. 

Canby,  Wm.  J.,  192,  193,  194. 

Canute,  84. 

Capture  of  Lewisburg,  1771,  132. 

Casey,  Henry,  509. 

Casey,  John,  483. 

Carpenter,  Mr.  J.  E.,  508. 

Carey,  Mat.,  17  . 

Castile,  King  of,  21. 


518 


INDEX. 


Cattermole,  91. 

Celebration  of  ist  anniversary  of  Dec.  of 

independence,  at  Phila.,  1777,  198. 
Cercopoly,  Capt.,  420. 
Chamberlain,  Capt.,  354. 
Channoch,  John,  199. 
Champion  &  Dickason,  211. 
Chandor,  John,  21. 

Charlemagne,  70,  92,  479  j  banner  pre- 
sented to,  by  the  Pope,  70. 
Charles  the  Fair,  89. 
Charles  I,  of  England,  22,  24,   33,  90, 

117,  123. 
Charles  II,  13,  87,  118,  123,  131,   154, 

484. 
Charles  III,   (Duke   de   Bourbon),    76; 

standard  of,  76. 
Charles  V,  70,  74. 
Charles  VI,  73. 
Charles  VII  and  VIII,  70,  75. 
Charles  IX,  of  France,  70. 
Charles  X,  of  Sweden,  56. 
CharlesXIV,  76. 
Charles  the  Fair,  70,  389. 
Charleston,  Mercury  on  the  Confederate 

flag,  410,  414. 
Charles,  Hon.  S.  P.,  309. 
Chase,  Mr.,  146. 
Chauncey,  Comm.  Isaac,  92. 
Chesnut,  Col.,  331,  336. 
China,  imperial  standard  of,  58. 
Chinese  standards,  57. 
Chinese  pirates,  flags  captured  from,  60. 
Churchill,  Sir  Winston,  78. 
Church  pendant,  469. 
Chronicles  of  the  flag,  1818,  1861,   260, 

285. 

Cincinnatus,  75. 
Claghorne,  George,  232. 
Clarke,  Adam,  43. 
Clarke,  Brevet.  Col.,  F.  N.,  433. 
Clarke,  Mr.,  171. 
Clay,  Henry,  256,  288,  332,  456 ;  against 

disunion,  289. 
Claypole,  John,  193. 
Clayton,  Capt.,  450,451. 
Clemens,  Hon.  Mr.,  294. 
Clinton,  Hon.  George,  128. 
Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  135. 
Clonston,  John,  160. 
Clothaire,  73. 
Clovis,  72,  73. 
Clovis,  sacred  banner  of,  71. 
Cobb,  Hon.  Howell,  290,  299. 

Cockburn,  Admiral,  493. 
Collins,  T.  K.,   194. 
Collier,  Lieut.,  355. 
Colliers,  Capt.,  298. 


Colonial  flags,  116. 

Colonial  vessels,  flags  of,  1741,  128. 

Colonies,  Grand  Union  or  Continential 
flag  of  the  United  155. 

Colonies,  United,  of  New  England,  123. 

Colonna,  Stefano,  64. 

Colored  flags  or  banners,  early  use  of,  II. 

Colors,  (American,  presented  to  French 
government),  225. 

Colors,  early  use  of  on  board  ship,  28. 

Colors  borne  by  ships  of  the  I4th,  cen- 
tury, 29. 

Colors  of  Spanish  fleet,  struck  to  the 
English,  34. 

Colors  of  Dutch  fleet,  struck  to  the  En- 
glish, 35. 

Colors  of  French  fleet,  struck  to  the  En- 
glish, 35. 

Colors  presented  to  the  American  Govern- 
ment, 229. 

Colors  of  artillery,  U.  S.  Army,  473. 

Colors  of  engineers,  U.  S.  Army,  474. 

Colors  of  infantry,  U.  S.  Army,  473. 

Colors  of  privateers,  1776,  141,  142. 

Colors  of  privateer  Franklin,  1776,  142. 

Colors  of  privateer  Hero,  1776,  143. 

Colors  of  Col.  Moultrie's,Regiment,  1775, 
144. 

Colors  of  the  "  Alliance"  1779,  167. 

Columbia,  the  Gem  of  the  Ocean,  506. 

Columbus,  no,  in,  112,  115,  109. 

Columbus,  Don  Fernando,  in. 

Columbus,  flag  of,  no. 

Commander  of  division,  flag  of,  467. 

Commission,  for  a  yacht,  488. 

Committees,  of  Congress,  on  the  preser- 
vation of  trophy  flags,  240. 

Commodore  Barney,  flag  of,  168. 

Commodore  Hopkins,  164. 

Commodore's  Broad  Pennant,  472,  467  ; 
U.  S.  N.,  15. 

Company,  East  India,  ensigns  of,  154. 

Company's  flag,  469. 

Conan,  Lieut,  of  Maximus,  21. 

Couch,  Major  Gen.,  432,  434,  436. 

Confederates  bury  a  U.  S.  flag,  399. 

Confederates    dance    over     U.  S.     flags, 

373- 
Confederates  ensigns,    (2d),    415;    (3^), 

4225  2d,  hoisted  on  Sumter,  419. 
Confederates,  flag  at  Havana,  396. 
Confederate  seal,  device  of,  415. 
Congress,    standard    presented  to,    1776, 

150. 

Constantine  the  Great,  47,  48,  58,  390. 
Constitution,  launchings  of  frigate,  232. 
Connecticut,  motto  on  flags  of,  1775, 

137- 
Continental  flag  of  United  Colonies,  155. 


INDEX. 


519 


Continental  Navy  raising  of,  1775,  145  5 
cost  of,  1775,  140}  colors  of,  1775, 
151. 

Convoy,  flag,  468. 

Cook,  Capt  James,  265. 

Coombs,  Gen.  Leslie,  447. 

Cooper,  James  Fennimore,  160, 165,  168, 
171,  172,  175,204. 

Copley,  John  Singleton,  215,  2 1 6- 

Corcoran,  Col.,  357. 

Corean  flags,  captured  from,  60. 

Cornet,  the  469. 

Corps  badges  U.  S.  army,  474. 

Cortez,  175,  57. 

Cortennallis,  standard  of,  58. 

Cornwallis,  Lord,  201,  242,  243. 

Corwin,  (U.  S.  Consul),  281. 

Cottineaux,  Capt.  Dennis  Nicolas,  204. 

Cotton,  Mr.  122 

Cotton,  W.  A.  457. 

Crane,  Mr.,  145. 

Crawford,  Asst.  Surg.    S.  W.,  311,    332, 

335- 
Cromwell's  banners,  24;  body  desecrated, 

24. 

Cromwell,  Oliver,  119,  188,  193. 
Cross  of  St.  George  floats  over  New  York, 

126  ;  origin  of,  117$  used  in  Massa- 
chusetts, 1 20. 
Cumberland,  Duke  of,  92. 

George,  Earl  of,  154. 
Cunningham,  Mr.,  206. 
Curious  method  of  carrying  flags  at  sea, 

28. 

Curtenius,  Mr.,  188. 
Curtin,  Gov.,  438. 
Curtis,  Sir  Roger,  458. 
Currency,  pine  tree,  origin  of,  130. 
Cushing,  Hon.  Caleb,  353. 
Custis,  Mr.  Washington  Park,  247,  2485 

John  Park,  248. 
Cyrus,  44. 

Dahlgren,  Rear  Admiral  J.  A.,  344,  345. 

Damascus,  our  flag  displayed  at,  273. 

Dana,  Richard  H.,  Jr.,  15. 

Danbernon,  Sir  John,  25. 

Dankers,  Jasper,  126. 

Dante,  390. 

Darien  expedition,  our  flag-  in,  279. 

Dartmouth,  Earl  of,  162. 

Dauphin,  Charles,  74. 

Davenport,  E.  L.,  507-. 

Davenport,  Richard,  120. 

Davis,  3ir,  335,449- 

Davis,  Jefferson,  372,  373,  293,  298, 
299,  323,  340,  342,  389,  420,425; 
inaugrated  President  Southern  Con- 
federacy, 293. 


David,  King  of  Scotland,  87. 

Davis,  Rear  Admiral,  Charles  H.,  323. 

Davis,  Thomas  Frederick,  D.D.,  339. 

Dayton,  Hon.  Wm.  L.,  302. 

Dead  Sea,  our  flag  on,  272,  274. 

Dean,  Capt.  Stewart,  217. 

Dean,  Mr.  144,  145. 

Debate  in  Confederate  Convention  on  the 

flag,  39°,  39a- 
De  Brinon,  Madame,  510. 
De  Bryan,  Sir  Guy,  20. 
Decatur  Com.,  Stephen,  238,  239. 
Declaration  of  independence,  1st  celebra- 
tion of  the  anniversary  of,  at  Phila. 

1776,  198. 

De  Haven,  Lieut.,  commanding,  284. 
Dimensions  of  navy  flags,  471. 
De  Molay,  41. 
De  Montford,  Simon,  23. 
De  Monts,   115;  De  Monts,  settlement 

of,   at  Annapolis,  115. 
Denmark,  Magic  standard  of,  64. 
De  Peyster,  Gen.,  430. 
De  Peyster,  Lieut.  J.  L.,  424,  425,  426, 

427. 

De  Plancy,  Collin,  71. 
Derivation  of  the  word  "  flag,"  applied  to 

colors,  12. 

De  Ruyter,  Admiral,  244. 
De  Sabla,  Theodore,  28. 
Desmond,  Master  John,  141. 
Desmoulins,  Camille,  75. 
Despatch  flag¥469- 
D'Estaing,  Admiral,  203. 
Destruction   of  the   brig    Nancy,   1776, 

196. 

Devereaux,  Capt.  James,  217. 
Devices  for  a  Confederate  flag,  390,  392. 

seal,  415. 
Devices  of  the  English  sovereigns,  77. 

of  Henry  II,  80. 

John  and  Henry  III,  81. 

Edward  I,  82. 

Edward  III,  8 1. 

Black  Prince,  81. 

Prince  of  Wales,  82. 

Richard  II,  82. 

Henry  III,  82. 

New  York  flags,  1775,  137. 
Device,  rattlesnake,  origin  of,  146. 
De  Witt,  Admiral,  244. 
D'Eyncourt,  Lord  Edmund,  20. 
Diana,  Byzantina,  51. 
Diaz,  Bernal,  57,  58. 
Digby,  Admiral,  211. 
Diodorus,  42. 

Diptote,  the,  a  naval  signal  flag,  458. 
Distinguishing  flag  of  admirals,  in  reign 

of  Edward  II,  32. 


520 


INDEX. 


Distinguishing  flags  of  U.  S.  navy,  455. 

of  U.  S.  army,  473. 

of  U.  S.  ships,  1800,  458. 
Distinguishing  flags,  &c.,  English  orders 

relative  to,  98. 
Dix,  Dorothea,  378,  382. 
Dix,  Gen.  John  A.,  351,  356. 
Dorr,  Mrs. 
Dorset,  22. 

Dostie,  Dr.  A.  P.,  365. 
Dote,  Lieut.  Thomas,  141. 
Doubleday,  Capt.  A.,  311,  332. 
Douglas,  Earl,  88,  89. 
Douglas,  of  Caver,  88. 
Douglass  standard  at  Otterburne,  88. 
Douglas,  Stephen  A.,  288,  309. 

Stephen  A.,  against  disunion,  289. 
Drake,  Joseph  Rodman,  478. 
Drake,  Samuel  G.,  131. 
Drake,  Sir  Francis,  114,  115. 
Draper,  J.  W.,  373,  385,  429. 
Drayton,  22. 
Dreer,  F.  J.,  165. 
Dreux,  John  of,  22. 
Duane,  William,  182. 
Ducange,  41. 
Dudley,  Mr.,  122. 
Dugdale,  31. 
Dumas,  Mr.,  167. 
Dunbar,  Ed.  E.,  270. 
Durham,  Bishop  of,  20. 
Dunlop,  Judge,  495. 
Dunnovant,  Gen.,  337. 
Dupont,  Rear  Admiral  S.  ?A.,  377,  442. 
Durang,  Fred.,  494. 
Durseley,  Lord,  13. 
Dusolle,  John  S.,  506. 
Dutch  fleet   strike    their   colors    to    the 

English,  35. 

ships  of  war  to  strike  colors  to  the 

English,  36. 

West  India  Co.  flag,  156. 

East  India  Co.  flag,    156. 
D wight  Timothy,  101. 
Dwight's  Prophecy  of  America,  102. 
Dyar,  Lieut.  Chas.  141. 

English  yachts,   1660,  484. 
Ensign,  American  yacht,  486. 
Ensign,  English,  1707,  129. 

East  India  Co.    1707,  129. 

Scotch  1707,  129. 

Irish  1707*  I49« 

New  England      1707,  129. 
Ensign  of  Portugal,  68. 
Ensign,  the,  honor  derived,  25,  26. 
Ensigns  on  the  Bayeux  Tapestry,  27. 

early  use  of,  on  board  ships,  28. 
Ensigns.  Slavonic,  52. 


Ensigns,  all  laid  by  Salem,  1134,  121. 

at  Salem  defaced,       1134?  120. 
Ensigns,  East  India  Company,  154. 
Ensigs    and  pendants  of  revenue    service, 

236. 
Ensigns,  Confederate  1st,  described,  395; 

2d,    described,  415$   3d,  described, 

422. 

Entick,  John,  32. 
E  Pluribus  Unum,  origin  of,  482. 
Eric  the  Red,  102,  104. 
Erik,  Bishop  of  Greenland,  voyage  of,  108. 
Erskine,  Sir  William,  22. 
Estabrook,  Gen,  451. 
Estevan,  Col.  371. 
European  States,  standard    and    flags  of, 

113. 

Eusebius,  48. 
Eustace  the  monk,  32. 
Everett,  Hon.  Edward,  on   the  stars  and 

stripes,  12,  353. 
Expedition  of  Sir  H.  Gilbert,  1578,  114. 

Sir  W.Raleigh,  115. 
Ezekiel  the  prophet,  28. 
Eagle,  golden,  of  Napoleon,  73. 
Earl  of  Berkeley,   the   first  to  hoist   the 

flag  of  Lord  High  Admiral,  13. 
Early,  Gen.  Jubal  A.,  401. 
Early  use  of  colored  flags  and  banners,  1 1. 
East  India  Co.,  flag  of  Dutch,  156. 
East  Indian  standard,  57,  62. 
Edes,  Capt.  B.,  493,  494. 
Edinburgh,  Duke  of,  484, 
Edith,  yacht,  the  first    American  yacht 

south  of  the  Equator,  278. 
Edmund  Ironsides,  84. 
Edmund  of  Lancaster,  86. 
Edmund  of  York,  86. 
Edmund  the  Martyr,  78. 
Edward  I,  22,  80,  82,  84,  86. 
Edward  II,  32. 
Edward  III,  device  of,  8 1. 
Edward  III,  20,  29,  30,  32,  73,   80,  8 1 

86,  89. 

Edward  IV.,  82,  83,  84. 
Edward  VI,  24,  83. 
Edward,  the  Black  Prince,  26. 
Edward,  the  Confessor,  23,  78,  80. 
Egyptians,  standard  of,  42. 
Elba,  flag  of,  73. 
Eleanor  of  Provence,  86. 
Elizabeth  of  York,  85. 
Elizabeth,  Queen,  24,  32,  80,  89. 
Elliot,  Major  Bernard,  144. 
Elliot,  Mrs.,  144. 
Emmons,  Com.  Geo.  P.,  160. 
Empire  of  Germany,  flag  of,  69. 
Endecott,  Gov.,  121. 
End  of  the  war  against  the  flag,  423. 


INDEX. 


521 


England,  New,  flag  of,  earliest  symbol  of 

the  colonies,  131. 

England,     New,     United     Colonies     of, 
formed,  12,3. 

Flag  of,  1686,  125. 

Extent  of,  1680,  121. 

Ensign  of,  129. 
English    flags,   the  first    planted  on   the 

shores    of  Eastern   North  America, 


Fairchild,  Richard,  364. 

Fairholt,  72,  73. 

Falconer's  dictionary  on  salutes,  37. 

Farley,  Lieut.  H.  S.  331. 

Farragut,  Admiral   D.   G.,  15,  190,  304, 

364,  367>  369>  386,  401,  445»  463, 

464,  465. 

Farrington,  D.  W.  C.,  259. 
Faunce,  Capt.,  327,  328. 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  66. 
Ferguson,  Rebecca  C.,     392 
Fernand,  Don,  66. 
Ferrar,  Mrs.,  213,  214. 
FestrohofF,  Capt.,  448. 
Fifteen    stars    and    fifteen    stripes,    1795 

1818,  221. 

First  British  flag  captured  in  1812,  247. 
First  flag  of  Great  Britian,  22. 
First  United  States  vessel,  through     the 

straits  of  Magellan,  267  ;  first  Ameri- 

can steam  schooner  to   China,  268  ; 

first  American  steam  schooner  back 

to  British  India,  268  ;  first  American 

propeller  packet    to  England,   268  ; 

first  American  pilot-boat  to  Ireland, 

269  ;  first  man  to  raise  the  stars  and 

stripes  in  California,  269  ;   first  gun 

at  Sumter,  fired  by  Edward  Ruffin, 

332  $  first  gun  for  Sumter,  fired  by 

Capt.  Doubleday,  232. 
Fish,  Hon.  Hamilton,  357. 
Flag,  derivation  of,  12. 

of  the  Lord  High  Admiral,  12. 

of  the  Lord  Lieut,  of    Ireland,    13. 

of  the  Lord  Admiral  of  the  fleet  of 
the  United  Kingdom,  I  3. 

of  the  admirals   in  the  royal  navy, 
14. 

of  the  President  of  the  U.  S.,    14. 

of  the  Secretary  of  the  U.  S.  navy,  14. 

of  Admiral  U.  S.  N.    14,  15. 

of  Washington's  life     guard,    17. 

of  William  Prince  of  Orange,  34. 

dispute  at  Lisbon  relative  to    cere- 
mony of,  36. 

red,  signal  for  battle,  46. 

derivation  of  pointed  or  triangular,  52. 

planted  by  Dr.  Hayes,  70°,  283. 

66 


Flag,  of  Elba,  73. 

of  Columbus,  no. 

of  Fort  Moultrie,  1775,  143. 

Col.  Gadsden,  132. 

Striped,  raising  of  Cambridge,  152, 

Striped,  raising  ofBoston,  152. 

Grand  Union,  first  unfurled,  153 

of  the  Royal  Savage,  153. 

Grand  union  of  united  colonies,  155. 

Continental,  155. 

of  Dutch  East  India  Co.,  156. 

of  Dutch  West  India  Co.,  156. 

British  Union,   origin   of,   119. 

of  Three  County  Troop,   123. 

New  England,  1686,  123. 

Burgher's  corps,  New  Amsterdam, 
125. 

N.  E.  provinces,   1680,   126. 

merchant  service,  1709,  128. 

colonial    vessels,  1741,  128. 

Scotch  Union,  1707,  129. 

New  England,  earliest  symbol  of  the 
colonies,  131. 

of  Sir  Wm.  Pepperrell,  1745,   131. 

raising   in    N.    York,    1766,     133. 

union,  raised  at  Taunton,  Mass., 
1774,  136. 

of  New  York,  device  on,  1775,  137. 

Bunker  Hill,  138. 

General  Putnam,  139. 

raising,  Savanah,  Ga.,  1775,  140. 

first  American,  hoisted  by  Capt.  J. 
Manly,  1775,  l69- 

first  American,  shown  to  the  Euro- 
pean world,  173. 

first  salute  obtained  to  the,  from   a 

foreign  power  by  the  Andrea  Doria, 

174- 

striped,  origin  of  unknown,  175. 
American,  at  White  Plains,   1776, 

177- 
of  the   U.   S.,  raised   on  board  the 

America,  by  Paul  Jones,  200. 
of  the    United    States,    established 

1818,  255. 
of  1818,  first  hoisted  on  the  U.   S. 

House  of  Representatives,  259. 
U.   S.,    hoisted    at    San    Francisco, 

271. 
hoisted  in  Mexico,  where  preserved, 

277. 

Museum  at  Washington,  440. 
of  Fort  Meigs,  in  1812,  447. 
Officer's    flags,    orders     concerning, 

461,  462. 
for  Rear  Admiral,  established  by  law, 

463. 
Vice  Admiral,    ordered,   464,  466, 

472. 


522 


INDEX. 


Flag,  Admiral,  ordered,  464,  466,  472. 

472. 

President  of  the   U.   S.,   404,  466, 
Secretary  of  the  navy,466,  472.. 
Rear  Admirals,  466,  472. 
our  Union,  503. 

of  America,  raised  by  Paul  Jones,  1 60. 
the  American,  raised  on  the  Alfred, 

1776,  166. 

of  Commodore  Barney,  168. 
of  American,  first  made  by  Mrs.  Ross, 

193- 

America,   raising  of,  on  the  Nancy 
1776,   194. 

of  Washington,  at  Trenton,  197. 

of  U.    S.   raised   on   board   Ranger, 

by  Paul  Jones,  19. 
Flags,  act  for  preservation  of,  184,  246. 

Boston,  1728,  131. 

captured  from  Chinese   Pirates,   60. 

captured    from    Coreans,    60. 

embroidery  of,  65. 

Spanish,   65. 

of  Pizarro,  67. 

of  Austria,  67. 

of  Russia,  67. 

of  Greece,  68. 

of  Belgium,  68. 

of  Holland,  68. 

of  Sweden  and  Norway,  69. 

of  Empire  of  Germany,  69. 

of  Revolutionary  Periods,  133. 

of  Pre-Revolutionary  Periods,  133. 

Connecticut,  motto  on,   1775,  137. 

Union,  mottoes  on,  1775,  137. 

Colonial  and  Provincial,  116. 
Fleet,  American,  sailing  of  the  first,  1776, 

170.  ^ 

American,  signals  for,  162. 
Fletcher,  Capt.,  327. 
Fletcher,  Gov.,  127. 
Fleur-de  lys,  origin  of,  72. 
Florida  secedes,  292. 
Flying  Fish,  schooner,  carries  our  flag  to 

70°  S.,  267. 

Fogg,  John  S.  H.,  M.D.,  384. 
Folger,  Capt.  Timothy,  an. 
Folger,  Mr.,  255. 
Foote,  Rear  Admiral,  444. 
Foote,  Senator,  307. 
Forbes,  Robert  B.,  268,  278. 
Force,  Peter,  495. 
Forney,  Col.  G.  W.,  304. 
Forster,  Mr.,  260. 
Forsyth,  John,  368. 
Fort  Sumter,  our  flag  at,  311,  347. 
Foss,  Jacob,  446. 

bequeaths  money  to  purchase  U.  S. 

flags,  446. 


Foster,  Capt.  J.   G.,  311. 

Foulke,  Count  of  Anjou,  80. 

Foulke,  Wm.  Parker,  282. 

Fox,  Qustavus  V.,  260,  321,   325,   326, 

327,  328,  330,  444. 
Fox,  Mr.,   491. 
France,  Tri-Color  of,  73. 

Imperial  standard  of,  76. 

ships  of  war  of,  not  to  strike  colors  to 
the  English,  36. 

standard  of  ancient  kings  of,  71. 
Francis  I,  of  France,  64,  70. 
Frankflh,  Benjamin,  148,  151, 16 6,  173, 

475- 

Franklin,  Lady,  285. 
Franklin,  privateer,  colors  of,  1776,  142. 
Franks,  standards  of,  70. 
Fraser,  Capt.,  355. 
Fraser,  Gen.,  143. 
Frederick  VII,  of  Denmark,  285. 
Frederick  Wilhelm  II,  69. 
Freedom  of  the  U.  S.  of  America  declared, 

I76. 
Fremont  hoists  a  flag  with  one    star,  at 

Sutler's  Fort,  Cal.,  271. 
Fremont,  John  C.,  270,  271. 
French  colors  presented  to  the  U.  S.,  228. 
French    frigate  compelled  to    salute   the 

English,  36. 

French,  Major  B.  B.,  308. 
French  squadron  strikes  their  colors  to  the 

English,  85. 
Freneau,  204,  205. 
Frietchie,  Mrs.  Barbara,  378,   379,   381, 

382. 
Froissart,  28,  32. 

Gadsden,    Christopher,    124,    144,    145, 

150,  1 66. 

Gadsden,  Col.,  flag  of,  150. 
Gadsden,  Rev.  C.  P.,  383. 
Gage,  Gen.  138. 
Gale  and  Seaton,  232. 
Gallagher,  Private,  Wm.  442. 
Gallilee,  our  flag  on  the  Lake  of,  272. 
Gallway,  Edward,  349. 
Gansevoort,  Col.  Peter,  200. 
Gardar,  the  Dane,  102. 
Garrison  flag,  U.  S.  army,  473. 
Gates,  Horatio,  Major  Gen.,  164. 
Gauls,  standards  of,  70. 
General  Order  on  representing  Mass  flags, 

434- 

relative  to  the  repossession  of  Sum- 
ter, 342,  445. 

General  Recall  Flag,  469. 

George  i,  90,  92. 
n,  109 
in,  22,  134. 


INDEX. 


523 


Georgia  secedes,  392. 

State  flags,  389. 
Gerard,  203. 

Germany,  flag  of  the  Empire  of,  69. 
Gerry,  Elbridge,  141,  169. 
Gerty,  Simon,  147. 
Gierlow,  Rev.  Mr.,  451. 
Gilbert,  Sir  Humphrey,  1 34. 

expedition  of,  432. 
Gildea,  James,  97. 
Giles,  Mr.,  223,  230. 
Gill,  Lieut.  John,  343. 
Gillis,  Commander,    327,  339. 
Gilmore,  Major  Gen.,  343,  344. 
Gilmore  P.  T.,  36. 
Golden  Eagle  of  Napoleon,  73. 
Gonfanons,  26. 

Gonfanon  of  William  the  Conqueror,  26. 
Gonsales,  Fernan,  Count  of  Castile,  65. 
Goodhue,  Mr.,  222. 
Goold,  William,  91. 
Gosnold,  Bartholomew,  115. 
Gloucester,  Humphrey,  Duke  of,  82,  92. 
Glover,  Col.,  141,  142. 
Grant,  Gen.  Ulyses   S.,  371,  423,  427, 

428. 

Graves,  Major.  E.  E.,  425. 
Gray,  Capt.  Robert,  217,  218,  219,  220. 
Gray,  James,  291. 
Gray,  Lieut.,  144. 

Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  Royal  standard 
of,  89,  91. 

Union  Jack  of,  93. 
Great  Harry,  the,  32. 
Great  Seal  of  the  United  States  described, 

480. 

Greeks,  standards  of,  43. 
Greeley,  Horace,  494. 
Green,  Capt.,  216. 
Green,  Gen.  Nathaniel,  158. 
Green,  Thomas,  194. 
Greene,  George  W.,  209. 
Greene,  Gov.  William,  208. 
Greenup,  Mr.,  222. 
Grenville,  Sir  Richard,  115. 
Greydon,  or  guidon,    how    derived,    24 ; 

its  dimensions,  25  ;  by  whom  used, 

25. 

Griffin,  Mr.,  410. 
Grinnell,  Moses  H.,  351. 
Griswold,    Rev.    Rufus   W.,  490,    491, 

499- 
Grotius,     Hugh,     writes     treatise     Man 

Liberum,  35. 
Grotius,  Hugo,  35. 
Grymes,  Benjamin,  248. 
Grymes,  Mr.,  247. 
Grymes,  William,  248. 
Guard  flag,  469. 


Gudreda,  widow  of  Thorstein,  107,  108. 
Guiart  Guilaume,  72. 
Guide  or  pivot  flag,  469. 
Gunnbjorn,  102. 

Hail  Columbia,  490. 

Haines,  Adj.  Gen.  John  M.,  437. 

Hakluyt,  26,  in. 

Hall,  Commodore  Isaac,  239. 

Hall,  Davis,    148. 

Hall,  Hon.  J.   P.,  290. 

Hall,  Lieut.,   334. 

Halleck,  Fitz  Green,  498 . 

Hamilton,  Lieut.,  238. 

Hamilton,  Paul,  239. 

Hamilton,  Schuyler,  187,  190. 

Hamlin,  Hon.  Hannibal,  307,  308. 

Hamlin,  Mrs.,  310. 

Hammett,  Mr.,  210. 

Hampden,  394. 

Hanaford,  Mrs.  P.  A.  214. 

Hancock,  Edward    C.,   400,    405,   404, 

405,  407. 

Hancock,  Mr.  John,  139,  195* 
Handel,  509. 
Hanover,  Dude  of,  92. 
Harbord,  Miss.,  507. 
Harbord,  Richard,  507. 
Harbridge,  Hon.  Julian,  415. 
Hardee,  Gen.,  402. 
Hardhitch,  Mr.,  215 
Harlow,  Sir  Robert,  154. 
Harold,  77,  26. 

Harper  Brothers,  315,  349^429, 
Harriman,  Gov,  437, 
Harris,  Mr.  232. 
Harris,  Rev  Mathew,  346, 
Harrison,  Lieut  Comdj.  Napoleon  B,  368, 
Harrison,  Mr,  225, 
Harry,  GracedeDieu,  32. 
Harry,  Mayor,  244, 
Hart,  Sergeant  Peter,  334,  335, 
Hart,  Thomas,   164. 
Hartley,  Mr.,  232. 
Hartstene,  Capt.,  325,  337,  339. 
Harvey,  Capt.  A.  C.,  345. 
Hastings,  John  de,  20, 
Havemeyer,  Wm.  T.,  351. 
Haven,  C.  C.,  183,  189,  201,  204,  205. 
Hawkins,  Sir  John,  114. 
Hawley,  Brig.  Gen.,  346. 
Haydn,  91. 
Hayes,    Doct.,    hoists  our  flag  at  Upper- 

navick,  281  ;  hoists  flag  in  latitude 

81°,  25'  N.,  283. 
Hayes,  Doct.,  281,  282,  284. 
Hay  ley,  Mrs.  George,  211,  213. 
Head,  Gen.  Natt.,  437. 
Head,  Mr.  John,  161. 


524 


INDEX. 


Hebrews,  standards  of,  43. 
Hedwega,  55. 
Hemmock,  Mr.,  357. 
Henault,  72. 

Hennessy,  Major  J.  A.,  343 
Henry  II,  of  France,  70. 

III,  of  France,  70. 

IV,  of  France,  70. 
of  Metz,  72. 

II,  device  of,  80. 

III,  "     «   81. 

IV,  «     «   82. 

V,  Banner  of,  83. 

VI,  •«     "  83. 
VIII,  Standards  of,  85. 
Prince  of  England,  85. 

II,  of  England,  80,  89, 

III,  of  England,  80,  84,  86. 

IV,  of  England,  82,  835 

V,  of  England,  79,  83,  89. 

VI,  of  England,  20,  29,  31,  78,79, 
83,  84,  85,  86. 

VII,  of  England,  32,  84,  111,112, 

"3- 

VIII,  of  England,  12,   34,   85,  89, 

"3- 

Henry,  Major  (of  Phil.),  203,  358. 

Heraldry  of  the  American   Flag,  250. 

Hereditary  banner  bearer  of  Scotland,  20. 

Heriulf,  103. 

Herman,  Augustin,  125. 

Hero  Privateer,  colors  of,  1776,  143. 

Herodotus,  44. 

Hewes,  Mr.,  145. 

Heywood,  33. 

Hill,  Gen.,  381. 

Hinks,  Major  Gen.,  432. 

Hinman,  Mr.,  176. 

Holland,  standard  and  flag  of,  68. 

Hollingsworth,  Levi,  184. 

Hollwell,  Capt.  John,  37. 

Holmes,  Hon.  John,  142. 

Holmes,  Lieut.  Col.,  433. 

Holmes,  Lieut.  N.,  367, 

Holmes,  Oliver  Wendell,  497,  503,  504, 
509 

Holt,  Mr.  (Sect,  of  War),  823. 

Hopkinson,  Francis,  490. 

Hopkins,  Commodore,  engraving  of,  pre- 
served at  Annapolis,  164. 

Hopkins,  Commodore  Esek,  151,  159, 
162,  163,  164,  165, 168,  170,  171, 
172,  175,  457;  standard  of,  457. 

Hopkins,  Mr.  145. 

Hopkinson,  Joseph,  490,  491. 

Hopwood,  Miss.  Mary,  381. 

Hospitallers,  banner  of,  41. 

Hough,  David,  339. 


How  our   flag   was   first  restored  to  the 

soil  of  South  Carolina,  377. 
Howard,  Lord  Wm.,  34. 
Howe,  Capt.  Tyringham,  72. 
Howe,  Lord,  215. 
Howe,  Major  Gen.,  137. 
Hubert,  Father,  886. 
Huddy,  Wm.,  185. 
Hudson,  156. 
Hudson,  Lieut.,  329. 
Hull,  F.  A.,  361. 
Humboldt,  390. 
Humboldt,  Baron,  112. 
Hume,  Lieut.,  144. 
Humphries,  Joshua. 
Humphries,  Major  General,  427 
Hungar  and  Hubba,  64 
Hungary,  national  colors  of,    67. 
Hunter,  Gov.  Robert,  127. 
Huntington,  Earl  of,  23. 
Hutchinson,  211. 

Imperial  Standard  of  France,  76. 
Inauguration  of  Pres.  Lincoln,  307,310. 
Incidents  at  Fort  Pillow,  375. 
Independence  Hall,  flag  raised  on,  by  the 

sailors  of  the  Hartford,  304. 
Independence  Hall,  Phila.,  Mr.  Lincoln 

raises  our  flag  on,  303. 
Indians,  N.  American,  standard  of,  59. 
Irish  Ensign,  1707,  129. 
Irving,  Washington,  51,  HI. 
Italian  standard,  73. 
Italy,  standards,  68. 

5ac£,  Union,  of  Gt.  Britain,  93. 
ackson,  Gen.  Andrew,  399,  446,  459. 
ackson,  Gen.  Stonewall,  379,  381. 
Jagillon,  Duke.  55. 
James,  Duke  of  York,  118. 
James  I,    of  England,  35,   89,  93,    116, 

119,125,129,131,154. 
James  II,  of  England,  509. 
James  IV,  of  Scotland,  75. 
Japanese  standards,  57,  61. 
Jarvis,  Mr.,  254. 
Jasper,  Sergeant,  143,  144,  334. 
at  Fort  Moultrie,  1775,  143. 
death  of,  144. 
Javanese  standards,  57,  62. 
Jay,  Hon.  John,  358. 
and  our  flag,  452. 

Jefferson,  Thomas,   188,  332,  475. 
Jenkins,  Com.   Thornton,  A.,  466. 
John,  King  of  England,  81,  34. 
John  of  France,  74. 
John  of  Gaunt,  82,  86. 
Johnson  Brevet  Major  Gen.,  376. 
Johnson,  Capt.,  1721. 


INDEX. 


525 


Johnson,  Capt.  Nicholas,  21  2. 
Johnson,  Hon.  Reverdy,  355,  356. 
Johnson,  Mr.  of  Georgia,  290, 
Johnson,  William,  221. 
Johnston,  Gen.  Joseph  £.,400. 
Johnston,    Gen.  Joseph    E.,    274,  275, 

401,  402,  430. 
Jones,  Comm.,  270. 
Jones,  John  Paul,  159,  160,  161,  162, 

1 66,  167,  1 68,  169, 198,  199,  200, 

204,  205. 

Jones,  Major  D.  R.,  337. 
Jones,  Sir  William,  63, 
Jones,  Thomas  211, 
Jonson,  Ben,  81, 
Josiah,  Capt.,  212, 
Juanna,  Donna,  66. 
Justice,  Alexander,  230, 

Kamara,  (Mars)  62. 

Kane,  Doct.  Elisha  Kent,  280,  282; 
carries  our  flag  nearest  the  North 
.  Pole,  282. 

Keim,  Gen.  George,  495. 

Keith,  Lawrence  M.,  290. 

Kempton,  Thomas,  212. 

Kendrick,  Capt.,  217,  218,  2205  death 
of,  218. 

Kennedy,  Major  E.  D.,  440. 

Key,  Francis  Scott,  492,  493,  494,495, 
496. 

Kirk,  Governor,  300. 

Kissick,  Lieut.  Wm.,  141. 

Knights  Templar,  standard  of,  385 
origin  of,  39;  oath  of,  405  suppres- 
sion of,  42. 

Knorr,  G.  F.,  283. 

Knox,  Gen.  Henry,  205,  206. 

Koah,  the  Blacksmith,  44. 

Kohl,  J.  G.,  309. 

Kohn,  Abra.,  300. 

Kohter,  Mons.,  447. 

Kuskol,  Capt.,  449. 

Labarum,  the  description  of,  47  ;  deriva- 
tion of,  47. 

Ladd,  Mrs.  C.,  391. 

Lafayette,  16,  17,  75,  288,  362,;  against 
Slavery,  289. 

Lamar,  Lieut.,   427. 

Landais,  Capt.  Pierre,  204,  205. 

Langdon,  Capt.,  425. 

Langdon,  Mr.  John,  144,  169. 

Lapses  in  Act  establishing  Great  Seal  of 
the  U.  S.,  480. 

Larochefoucault,  Count,  71.' 

Latimer,  A.  R.,  376,  377. 

Latimer,  Miss  Emma,  376. 

Lawrence,  Col.,  357. 


Leake,  Sir  John,  13. 

Lee,  Capt.,  336. 

Lee,  General  Robert  E.,  379,  381,  423, 

427,  428,  430;  surrender  of,  428. 
Lee,  Major  Gen.  Chas.,  164,  166,    1  8  1. 
Lee,  Mr.  John,  236. 
Lee,  Mr.  R.  H.,  145. 
Le  Ferre,  Seigneur  de  St.  Henry,  79. 
Leicester,  Earl  of,  23. 
Leif,    son  of  Eric   the  Red,  voyage  of, 

104,  105,  106. 
Lempriere,  Clement,  1  60. 
Leo  III,  Pope,  70. 
Leonard,  Rev.  Mr.,  139. 
Letcher,  Gov.,  339,  371. 
Letters  of  P.  H.    Wendover,   254,  257  j 

Robert  Anderson,  319,  321  5   F.  W. 

Pickens,  320}  J.  McGowan,  317; 

Simeon     Cameron,     326  5     Gideon 

Welles,    327  ;  G.    T.   Beauregard, 

401,  405  }  W.  P.  Mills,  403,  406; 

J.  B.    Walton,  404;  E.    C.   Han- 

cock, 405  ;  J.  A.  Andrew,  436. 
Leutze,  138. 
Levy,  28. 
Lewis,  Capt.,  247. 
Lewis,  Capt.  George  W.,  268. 
Lewis,  George,  248. 
Lewis,  Mr.,  145. 
'Lewis,  Mr.,  247. 
Lewis,  Mrs.,  of  Va.,  188. 
Lewis,  Samuel,  248. 
Liberty   pole  in   New    York  cut   down, 

1770,  1776,   134. 
Liberty  tree,     Boston,  Mass.,    cut    down 


Liberty  tree,  Charleston,  S.  C.,  cut  down 
1780,  135. 

License  for  a  yacht,  form  for,  487. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  281,  289,  291,  292, 
293»  299,  300,  302,  303,  304,  305, 
306,  307,  308,309,  310,325,  330, 
357,  873,  383,  420;  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  U.  S.,  290;  journey 
from  Illinois  to  Washington,  299  ; 
raises  our  flag  on  Independence 
Hall,  303. 

Lincoln,  Bishop  of,  30. 

Lincoln,  Earl  of,  12. 

Lipsius,  55. 

Littleton,  Vice  Admiral,  13. 

Livingston,  Doct.  David,  452. 

Locke,  Capt.,  269. 

Lodebrock,  64. 

Long,  Col.,  493. 

Long  Island,  incident  of  the  battte  of, 
176. 

Longfellow,  Henry  W.,  IOI. 

Longstreet,  Gen.,   379. 


526 


INDEX. 


Lord  High  Admiral's  flag  first  carried  at 

sea,  13. 
Lossing,  B.  J.,  no,  116, 119,  130,  135, 

139,  140,  144,  153,  188,  201,  248, 

*97>  3J4,  334,  336,  343>  347,  351, 

354,  3gi,  384,  385>  »«*4»3»4*i- 
Lossing  and  Williams,  480. 
Lothaire,  73. 

Lothrop,  Rev.  Saml.  K.,  434. 
Louis  Le  Gros,  72. 
Louis  of  Bavaria,  Emperor,  64. 
Louis,  St.,  70. 
Louis  VIII,  70. 
Louis  XII,  70,  75. 
Louis  XIV,  70,  510. 
Louis  XVI,  74. 

Louisbourg,  capture  of,  1745,  131. 
Louisiana   secedes,   293  5   state    flags  of, 

386. 

Low,  Mr.,  173. 
Lowden,  James,  212. 
Lowes,  1 88. 
Loyal  flag  raisings,  following  the  fall  of 

Sumter,  348,  368. 
Lukens,  Chas.  J.,  182,   183,    186,  187, 

248,  250. 
Lukens  heraldry   of  the  American  flag, 

256. 

Lunt,  Ezra,  139. 
Lunt,  Lieut.  Paul,  139. 
Lydgate,  80. 
Lyman,  Mr.,  222. 
Lynch,  Lieut.,  272,  273,  274. 
Lynch,  Mr.,  151. 
Ljnd,  Bishop,  339. 
Lyndhurst,  Lord,  215. 

McAllister,  John  A.,  181,  197,  438. 

MacCauley,  Capt,,  493. 

McClean,  Wm.,  427. 

McCulloch,  Secretary,  366. 

McDougall,  Col.,  1 60. 

Macedonian,  capture  of,  238. 

McEwen,  Mrs.  Hetty,  441. 

McEwin,  Mrs.,  374. 

McGinness,  (seaman),  279,  280. 

McGowan,  Capt.  John,  317,  319,  387. 

McGowan's  report  of  the  firing  on  the 
Star  of  the  West,  317. 

McGuire,  Capt.,  269. 

Mackenzie,  J.  Sliddell,  160,  168. 

McLaughlin,  Mr.,  352. 

McMakin,  Andrew,  185. 

Madison,  Mr.,  223. 

Madison,  Mrs.,  239. 

Madoc,  102. 

Magnetic  Pole,  Comm.  Ross  takes  pos- 
session of,  285. 

Magyars,  King  of,  standard  of,  55. 


Mahar,  James,  495. 

Mahomet,  49,  51,  52  ;  II,  sacred  stand- 
ard of,  51,  52. 

Maine  flags  returned,  439.    " 
Maintenon,  Madam,  510. 
MakesatofF,  Gov.,  449. 
MakesatofF,  Princess,  449. 
Manipulus,  standard  of,  45. 
Manley,  Capt.  John,  141,  169. 
Manley,Capt.  J.,firstAmerican  flag  hoisted 

by,  1775,  169. 

Mann,  Mr.,  236. 

Manning,  Mrs.,  139. 

Mansell,  Sir  Robert,  35. 

Mare    Clausem,  treatise  by   Mr.   Selden, 

35- 
Mare  Liberum,  treatise  by  Hugh  Gortius, 

Marcel,  Etienne,  74. 

Marcus  Aurelius,  emperor,  53. 

Marcy,  Hon.  Wm.  L.,  247. 

Marcy,  Wm.  L.,  captures  1st  British  flag, 

^  1812,  247. 

Maria,  incidents  of  ship,  213. 
Maria,  the,  1859,  215. 
Marines,  66. 

Marines,  battalions  of,  raised  1775,  145. 
Marines,  good  behavior  of,  in  action,  172. 
Marius,  Roman  Consul,  46. 
Mark,  banner  of,  Robert  de  la,  76. 
Markoe,  Capt.  Abraham,  181,  182,  185. 
Marlborough,  Duke  of,  76,  77,  93. 
Marriage,  Queen  of  England,  12,  24,  34, 

85. 

Marshall,  Chas.  H.,   322. 
Marshall,  Chris,  176,  182. 
Martigne,  Chevalier,  200. 
Martin,  St.,  standard  of,  71. 
Mason,  Hon.  George,  188. 
Mason,  Lowell,  510. 
Mason,  Miss.  Fanny,  272,  273. 
Mason,  Mr.,  262. 
Masonic  standards,  38. 
Massachussetts  flags  returned  to  the  state, 

433- 
Massachusetts   His.  Soc.    presented   with 

rebel  flags,  by  G.  H.  Fox,  444. 
Matilda,  Queen  of  William  the  Conqueror, 

26,  29. 

Maxentius,  47. 
Meade,  Lieut,  R.  R.,  311. 
Meade,  Major  Gen.,  427,  428,  429,438. 
Meadows,  Capt.,  142. 
Meares,  Lieut.,  220. 
Memminger,  Mr.,  390,  392. 
Memminger's   speech    on    a   confederate 

flag,  390. 
Menage,  41. 
Mendenhall,  Capt.  Thos.,  194- 


INDEX. 


527 


Mercer,  Capt.  Samuel,  326,  327,  329. 

Merchant  service,  flag  of,  1709,  128. 

Mesroud,  Ibu  Mesiera,  51. 

Mewar,  62. 

Mexican  standards,  54. 

Mexico,  our  citizens  protected  by  our  flag, 

261. 

Middleton,  Mr.,  479. 
Midway  Islands,  taken  possession  of,  449. 
Miles,  Col.  Wm.  Porcher,  311,  336,  337, 

39J>  392>  395>  401,402,  4°4>  4° S» 
407. 

Miles,  Rev.  James  B.,  360. 
Minute  guns  for  death  of  J.  Q.  Adams, 

fired  on  the  Dead  Sea,  273. 
Mira  or  Mora,  the,  ships  of  William    the 

Conqueror,  29 
Mississippi  secedes,  292. 
Mitchell,  Capt.J.  K,  281. 
Monwyah,  51. 
Monson,  Sir  Wm.,  35. 
Montacute,  Lord  John,   23. 
Monte,  Marc  Anthony,  64. 
Montgomery,  Capt.  Hugh,  194,  196. 
Montgomery,  General,  245. 
Montgomery,  Miss.  Elizabeth,  194,   195. 
Montgomery,  Rear  Admiral,  J.  B.,  271. 
Mooers,  Capt.  William,  209,   211,   213, 

214. 

Moore,  Frank,  203,  376,  410,  503. 
Moore,  Gov.,  292,  386. 
Morgan,  Gen.  Daniel,  138. 
Morris  and  Croffet,  348. 
Morris,  Capt.,  121,  122. 
Morris,  Capt.  H.  W.,  366. 
Morris,  Comm.  Richard  V.,  458. 
Morris,  Geo.  P..  503. 
Morris,  John,  164. 
Morris,  Mr.,  145. 
Morris,  Robt.,  193,  194. 
Morrison,  J.  G.  Jr.,  359. 
Morse,  Prof.  S.  F.    B.,   294  ;   proposes  a 

flag  for  a  northern  and  southern  U. 

S.,  propositions  for  a  peaceable  disu- 
nion, 37,  295,  297. 
Morton,  A.,  351. / 
Morton,  Mr.,  280,  282. 
Moslem  standards,  49. 
Motley,  John  Lathrop,  57. 
Motte,  Benjm.,  129. 
Motto  on  Connecticut  flags,  1775,  Z37  > 

Union  flag,  1775,  237> 
Moultrie,  Col.,  143. 
MoultrJe,  Fort,  flag  of,  1775,  143;  Sergt. 

Jasper,  at,  43. 

Moultrie's  regiment,  colors  of,  44. 
Mouton,  President,  386. 
Moylan,  Col.,  141,    142. 


Muley,  Abbas.,  52. 
Mumford,  hung  at  New  Orleans,  369. 
Mumford,  Wm.  B.,  367,  368,  369,  370. 
Munroe,    James,    223,    224,  225,    226. 

227,  228,  229. 
My  country  'tis  of  thee,  509. 
Myrick,  Doct,  26. 

Naddod,  102. 

Names  of  Am.  Yacht  Clubs,  1872,  485. 

Nancy,  raising  of  the  stars  and  stripes 
on  the,  1776,  194;  blowing  up  of 
the,  1776,  195. 

Nanfan,  Lieut.  Gov.  John,  127. 

Napoleon,  Golden  Eagle  of,  73. 

Napoleon  I,  69,73,77. 

Napoleon  III,  484. 

National  songs,  490,  510. 

Naval  force  of  U.  S.,  1812,  238;  sig- 
nals, 1800,  458. 

Naval  trophy  flags  presented  to  Mass. 
Hist.  Society,  444. 

Navy,  continental,  raising  of,  1775,  146; 
cost  of,  1775,  146;  colors  of,  1775, 
151  ;  uniform  1776,  164;  distin- 
guishing flags  of,  455;  rules  and 
regulations  respecting  distinctive 
flags,  1803,  459;  1818,  459; 
l833»4595  l843>46o;  1857, 460; 
1865,  464;  1870,  471  ;  flags  di- 
mensions of,  471. 

New  Amsterdam,  flag  of  Burgher's  Corps, 
125;  changed  to  New  York,  126. 

Newcastle,  Duke  of,  128. 

Newcomb,  Hon.  O.,  352. 

New  England,  extent  of,  1680,  126;  en- 
sign of,  1707,  129;  united  colonies 
formiu,  123 

New  Hampshire  flags  returned  to  the 
state,  437. 

New  Providence,  taken  1778,  202. 

New  Orleans,  our  flag  at,  364,  365. 

New  York,  Cross  of  St.  George  floats  over, 

121. 

Nicholas,  Capt.,  172. 
Nicholson,  Commodore,  232. 
Nicholson,  J.,  129. 
Nicolas,  Sir  Harris,  72,  106. 
Nicolls,  Col.  Richard,  126,  127. 
Niles,  Mr.,  188., 
Norfolk,  Mowbray,  Duke  of,  83. 
North  American  Indians,  standard  of,  59. 
North  Carolina  State  flag,  389. 
North,  Lord,  394. 
Northumberland,  Earl  of,  35. 
Norway,  standard  and  flags  of,  69. 
Notre  Dame,  France,  trophies  at,  241. 
Noyes,  Capt.  Thomas,  124. 


528 


INDEX. 


O'Bannon,  Lieut.,  26. 

O'Donnel,  Mr.,  352. 

Ogilby,  Col.   Lieut.,  Nicholas,   340. 

Olney,  Jeremiah,  207. 

Open  Polar  Sea  described,  282. 

Orange,  William,  Prince  of,  flag  of,  34. 

Oriflamme,  72. 

Origin,  of  St.  George's  cross,  227. 

British  Union  flag,  9. 

Pine  Tree  currency,  30. 

of  the  Southern  battle  flag,  400. 

of  the  coach  whip    pendant,  457, 

of  the  motto  E  Pluribus  Unum,  482, 
Orizaba,  stars  and  stripes  on,  276. 
Osborne,  T.,  507 
Osman,  Caleb,  III,  49 
Othman,  52, 
Our  flag  carried  to  75°  S.  262  j  carried  to 

80°  N.,  283  5  in  Secessia,  364,  382  ; 

in  Switzerland,  1867,  and  1872,  446. 
Our  star-gemmed  banner,  350. 
Owen  Tudor,  84. 
Owen,  Sir  David,  23. 

Paca,  Mr.  145,  146. 

Pacific  Mail  Steamer  to  China,  the  first, 
446 

Paddleford  &  Fay,  268. 

Page,  Capt.  269. 

Paget,  C.,  100. 

Paine,  Col.  Wm.  H.,428. 

Paine,  Robert  Treat,  500,  502. 

Palmer,  Capt.,  121,  122. 

Palmer,  Doct.,  407. 

Palmer,  Surgeon  J.  C.,  264. 

Palmetto  flags,  387. 

Palmetto  flag,  hoisted  at  Charleston, 
201. 

Panama  flag,  struck  by  lightning,  281. 

Parton,   James,  366,  370. 

Pasqualigo,  112. 

Passage  of  Stamp  Act,  133. 

Paul  Jones,  flag  of  America,  raised  by, 
1 60;  flag  of  U.  S.,  raised  on  board 
the  Ranger,  1995  flag  of  U.  S., 
raised  on  board  the  America,  200. 

Paul,  Emperor  of  Russia,  41. 

Peace  Convention  at  Washington,  299. 

Peace  flags,  297, 

Peale,  Edmund,  17. 

Peale,    Mr.    Chas.    Wilson,    190,    196, 

1975 

Peale,  Titian  R.,  197. 
Pedraza,  Gomez,  261. 
Pendants,  ensigns,  etc.,  revenue  service, 

236. 
Pendants,  to  be  worn  only  by  men  of  war, 

174. 
Penn,  Mr.,  127. 


Pennons,  how  formed,  and  by  whom  used, 
25;  of  Sir  John  Daubernoun,  25; 
of  St.  George,  St.  Michael,  St.  Ur- 
sula and  of  John  the  Baptist,  25. 

Pepperrell,  Sir  Wm.,  131,   132}  flag  of, 

I745»  '31- 
Pepys,  Thos,,  484. 
Percy,  Earl,  88. 
Perkins,  Col.  T.  H..  362. 
Perry,  Commodore  M.  C.,  277. 
Persians,  standard  of,  44. 
Pescara,  Marquis  of,  64. 
Pescara,  standard  of  Marquis  of,  64. 
Petts,  Phineas,  484. 
PfifFer,  Col.,  62. 

Phila.  Light  House,  standard  of,  181. 
Philip  the  Bold,  75,  76. 
Phillip  and  Solomon,  495. 
Phillip  II,  of  Spain,  34. 
Phillip  of  Orleans,  75. 
Phillip  the  Bold,  of  Burgundy,  standard 

of,  76. 

Phillips,  Hon.  Wendell,  on  disunion,  294. 
Phillips,  Wendell,  294. 
Phittiplace,  Lieut.  Edward,    141. 
Pickens,  Gov.    F.  W.,  320,    321,    323, 

32S»  326»  33°.  338>34Q,  385- 

Pickering,  Hon.  Timothy,  230,  231,232. 

Pierce,   Franklin,   394. 

Pillow,  Gen.,  274. 

Pilot  flag,  468. 

Pine  Tree  currency,  origin  of,  130. 

Piquet,  Admiral  La   Motte,  199. 

Pizarro,  67. 

Pizarro,  flag  of,  67. 

Planche,  Mr.,  86,  93. 

Plummer,  Mr.   507. 

Poindexter,  Mr.,  255. 

Poinsett,  Hon.  Joel  R.,  261,  262;  dis- 
plays our  flag  in  Mexico,  to  protect 
Am.  citizens  and  others,  261. 

Poland,  banners  and  national  colors  of, 
53  j  black  ensign  of  the  crown  of, 
56. 

Pole,  liberty,  cut  down  in  N.  York,  1770 
and  1776,  134. 

Polk,  Bishop  Gen.,  373,  402. 

Poor,  Capt.  Wm.,  268. 

Popham,  1 1 6. 

Popocatepetl,  stars  and  stripes  on,  275. 

Popple,  Mr.  127. 

Porter,  Admiral  David  D.,  327,  445, 
466. 

Porter,    Commodore   David,    233,    234, 

Portugal,  standard  and  ensign  of,  48. 
Postell,  Capt.  Wm.  Ross,  415. 
Powder,  469. 
Powers,  Stephen,  483 


INDEX. 


529 


Pownall,Gov.  Thomas,  133  . 

Preble,  Capt.  Geo.  Henry,  404,  405,  406, 

407,   510. 

Preble,  Capt.  Edward,  4<;8. 
Pre-revolutionary  periods,  flags  of,  133. 
Prescott,  Wm.  H.,  57,  58. 
Preservation,  act  for,  of  flags,'i8i4,  241. 
President's  flag,  464,  466,  470. 
Preston,  Hon.  Ed.  J.,453 
Preston,  on  the  Am.  flag,  453. 
Prestwich,  Sir  John,  481. 
Prince  of  Wales,  91  5  device  of,  82 
Privateer  Yankee  Hero,  colors  of,   1776, 

143- 

Privateer    Franklin,  colors  of,  1776,  142. 
Privateers,  colors  of,  1776, 141, 142  ;  uni- 
form of  officers  1776,  142. 
Proctor,  Capt.,  196. 
Proposed  standard,  1818,  251. 
Proudhon,  preface. 
Provinces,  flag  of,  126. 
Provincial  flags,  116. 
Pryor,  Col.,  3 36,  337. 
Pulaski,  Count,  16. 
Pulaski's  banner,  16. 
Purple  ribbon  worn  by  Major  Generals, 

I77S»  I97- 

Putnam,  Maj.  Gen.,  139,158,  191,498. 
Putnam,  Rev.  Doctor,  354. 

Quadra,  the  Spanish  commandant,  220. 
Quantrill,  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  379,  381,  382. 
Queen  Anne,  77,  89,  90,  96,   118,  509. 

Elizabeth,  24,  32,  80,  114,  116. 

Mary,  12,  24,  34,85. 

Bess,  85. 

Victoria,  92,  484. 
Queen's  cup,  489. 
Quitman,  Gen.,  426. 

Raising  our  flag  over  the  Capitol  at 
Richmond,  Va.,  424. 

Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  114,  11-5;  expedi- 
tions of,  115. 

Rail,  Col.,  176. 

Randolph,  Edmund,  224, 

Ranger,  United  States  flag  raised  on  board 
of,  by  Paul  Jones,  199. 

Rapine,  Father,  352. 

Rathburne,  Capt.  John,  202. 

Rattlesnake  device,  origin  of,  146. 

Rattlesnake  in  heraldry,  166. 

Ray,  John,  31. 

Raymond  Mr.,  300,  306,  334. 

Read,  General,  274. 

Read,  Mr.,  145. 

Ready,  Doct.  James,  366. 

Rear  Admiral's  flags,  law  establishing, 
463. 

69 


Rebel  flags  at  Washington,  441 5  at  An- 
napolis, 443  ;  at  Boston,  444. 

Rebellion,  1861-1865,  our  ^g  in»  l87> 
431. 

Reed,  Col.,  140.  142. 

Reed,  James,  367. 

Reed,  Joseph,  152. 

Reid,  Capt.  S.  C.,  design  for  our  flag, 
251,  254,  255,  257,  258,  259,  260; 
proposed  standard,  1818,  251. 

Reid,  Mrs.  S.  C  ,  258,  259,  260. 

Reinagle,  Mr.,  491. 

Relief  of  Sumter,  Mr.  Fox  attempts,  327. 

Reno,  Gen.,  379. 

Report  of  a  committee  on  confederate 
flag,  393  }  of  a  device  for  the  Great 
Seal  of  the  United  States,  July  4, 

1776,  4755  di«Q»  J779»  476. 
Reports  of  a  committee  of  Congress  on 

the  flag,  1818,251,  254. 
Reprisal,  first  American  vessel  of  war  to 

show  the  flag  to  Europeans,  173. 
Resolve,  concerning  standards  and  colors 

taken  from  the  enemy  1778,  241. 
Restoration  of  our  flag  at  New    Orleans, 

366. 

Return  of  the  volunteer  regiments,  432. 
Revenue  service,  ensigns  and  pendants  of, 

*3°- 

Revere,  Paul,  136. 
Revolutionary  period,  flags  of,  133. 
Reynolds,  Capt.  Wm.,  449. 
Rhett,  Robert  Barnwell,  289. 
Rhode  Island  flags  returned,  438. 
Rhode  Island  state  flags,  1784,  206. 
Richard  I,  80,  81. 

Richard  II,  23,80,82;  device  of,  80,8 1. 
Richard  III,  83,  84;   device  0^83. 
Richards,  Capt.  Wm.,  196. 
Richetts,  Col.,  128. 
Richmond  Despatch,  on  the  confederate 

flag,  407. 

Richmond,  Earl  of,  22. 
Richmond  Examiner,  on  the  confederate 

flag,  410. 

Richmond  occupied  by  U.  S.  troops,  423. 
Ricot,  Capt.  Philip  Nicolas,  204. 
Riedesel,  Gen.,  242. 
Ringold,   54. 
Ritzema,  Col.  Rud.,  158. 
Robert  de  la  Mark,  76  :   banner  of,  76. 
Roberts,  M.  O.,  317,  318. 
Roberts,  Sergeant  Otis  C.,  443. 
Robertson,  Mr.,  250. 
Robinson,  Captain,  174. 
Roche,  Lieut.  John,  141. 
Rodgers,  Rear  Adm.  John,  60,  377,444. 
Rodman,  Samuel,  215. 
Rogers,  Robert  Clay,  277. 


53 


INDEX. 


Rolfe,  Capt.,  108. 

Romans,  standard  of,  45. 

Rooke,  Sir  George,  36,  98. 

Roos,  Sir  John,  (Admiral),  30. 

Root  &  Cady,  506. 

Rose,  noble  of  Edward  III,  description  of, 

32- 

Rosencrantz,  Gen.,  373. 
Ross,  Col.  George,  192,  193. 
Ross,  Com.  James  Clark,  285. 
Ross,  Mrs.,  first  American  flag,  made  by, 

J93- 

Ross,  Mrs.  John,  192,  193. 
Ross,  Sir  James,  267. 
Rotch,  Benjamin,  214. 
Rotch,  William,  Jr.,  210,212,  214 
Rotch,  Williams,  209,  210,  213. 
Rous,  John,  31. 

Rousseau,  Major  General,  448,  449. 
Rousseau,  Jean  Jacques,  227. 
Rowan,  Commander,  327. 
Rowan,  Rear  Admiral,  S.  C.,  328,  329, 

466. 

Royal  Savage,  flag  of,  153. 
Royal  standard  of  Great  Britain,  12. 
Ruffin,  Edmund,  331,   339. 
Russell,  Gen.,  438. 

Russia,  flag  of,  67  j  royal  standard  of  68. 
Rut,  John,  114. 
Rutledge,  Gov.,   144. 
Rutledge,  Mr.,  479. 
Ryngeborne,  John  de,  30. 

St.  Andre,  228. 

St.  Andrew,  13,93,94,  95,  117,  119, 
I53>  i54i  163,  176,402,406. 

St.  Bernard,  39. 

St.  Botolph,  29. 

St.  Columb,  77. 

St.  Cuthbert,  87,  88. 

St.  Dennis,  71,  72,  74;   banner  of,  72. 

St.  Edmund,  78,  79,  80;  banner  of,  78. 

St.  Edward,  the  Confessor,  banner  of,  80. 

St.  George,  13,  25,  29,  30,  31,  32,  33, 
78,  84,  89,  93,  94,  95,  96,  98,  99, 
116,  117,  119,  123,126,129,  130, 
'39,  '53,  154,  163,  176,275,4165 
Cross  of,  floats  over  N.  York,  126. 

St.  George's  Cross,  origin  of,  117;  used 
in  Massachusetts,  120. 

St.  Gratian,  71. 

St.  James,  66. 

St.  John,  41,  87. 

St.  Mark,  112. 

St.  Martin,  71.     • 

St.  Michael,  25. 

St.  Oswald,  77. 

St.  Patrick,  13,  93,  94,  95,  119. 

St.  Paul's  Chapel,  U.  S.  arms  in,  481. 


St.  Peter,  70,  87. 

St.  Sebastian,  56. 

St.  Stephen,  55,   56. 

St.  Thomas,  30. 

St.  Ursula,  25. 

St.  Wilfred',  87. 

Sagahan,  Spanish  historian,  58. 

Sailing  of  the  first  American  fleet,  1776, 
170. 

Salem,  ensigns  defaced  at,  1634,  120  }  all 
ensigns  laid  by,  1634,  121. 

Salisbury,  Earl  of,  23,  30. 

Salter,  Lieut.  Francis,  141. 

Saltonstall,  Capt.  Dudley,  159,  165. 

Saltonstall,  Hon.  Nathaniel,  124. 

Salute  of  the  President  of  the  U.  S.  and 
others,  14,  15,  16. 

Salutes  to  the  royal  standard,  lord  High 
Admiral's  flag  and  others  belonging 
to  the  British  navy,  12,  13,  14. 

Sanders,  Samuel,  147. 

Sands,  Mr.  Robert  C.,  1 60,   1 66. 

Sanford,  F.  C.,  212. 

Sargent,  Gen.  Horace  Binney,  437. 

Sarmiento,     157,  187. 

Savannah  Morning  Neivs  on  the  confeder- 
ate flag,  415. 

Sawyer,  Capt.  Daniel,  236. 

Schofield,  Major  Gen.,  345. 

School  girl  court  martialed  for  insulting 
the  stars  and  stripes,  376. 

Schoonover,  Lt.  Col.,  428,  432 

Schott,  Capt.  John,  135. 

Schouler,  W.,  363,  432,  434,  436. 

Schuyler,  Major  Gen.  Philip,  153,  1 8 1, 
191. 

Scipio,  28. 

Scotch  Union  flag,  1707,  1 29  j"ensign, 
129. 

Scott,  Gen.  Winfield,  274,  288,  306,  806, 
312,  322,  323,  325,  359,  4265  on 
the  flag,  288. 

Scott,  Lieut.  James,  1 60. 

Scott,  Sir  Walter,  93. 

Scribner,  Mr.,  484. 

Scudder,  Mr.,  206. 

Sea,  sovereignty  of,  asserted  by  England, 
35  }  disputed  by  France  and  Holland, 
35 ;  conceded  to  England  by  the 
Dutch,  36;  claimed  by  England,  34. 

Seal  and  arms  of  the  United  States,  475. 

Sears,  Hon.  David,    135. 

Sebastian,  Don,  76. 

Seburg,  Will,  31. 

Secessia,  our  flags  in,  364,  382, 

Secession  flags,  297. 

Secretary  of  the  Navy's  flag,  466,  472. 

Seige  of  Carleverock,  banners  at,  1 9,  20, 

Selden,  Mr.,  35. 


INDEX. 


531 


Selden,  Mr.,  writes  treatise,  "  Mare  Clau- 
sem,  35. 

Selman,  Capt.  John,  140,  142. 

Semmes,  Admiral,  396,  397. 

Senior  officer  presents  pendant,  467. 

Sergeant  Jasper  at  Fort  Moultrie,  1776, 
1435  death  of,  144. 

Seward,  Wm.  H.,  357." 

Seybert,  Mr.,  240. 

Seymour,  Capt.  Truman,  311,  341. 

Seymour,  Sir  George,  271. 

Shakespeare,  Wm.,  303. 

Shakespeare's  picture  of  Bolingbroke,  353. 

Shaw,  David  T.,  506,  507. 

Shepherd,  C.,  164. 

Shepley,  Gen.  Geo.  F.,  424,  425,  426. 

Sheppard,  142. 

Sherburne,  H.,  199. 

Sherman,  Gen.  Wm.  T.,  344,  434. 

Ship  of  William  the  Conqueror,  29. 

Ships  of  United  States,  rules  for,  37. 

Shryock,  Lieut.,  281. 

Sibley,  J.  L.,  133. 

Sicard,  Lieut.  Commanding  Montgomery, 
450. 

Signal  flags  used  before  Tripoli,  1803—4, 
458. 

Signals  for  American  fleet,  1776,  162. 

Sill,  Deacon,  359. 

Sinclair,  A.  D.,  392. 

Sinn,  Miss  Martha,  380. 

Skinner,  Miss  Fanny,  272,  273. 

Slab  placed  over  birth  place  of  Washing- 
ton, 247. 

Sloat,  Commodore,  271. 

Sluyter,  Peter,  126. 

Smith,  General,  255. 

Smith,  Gen.  G.  W.,  401. 

Smith,  Jas.  B.,   182. 

Smith,  Mr.,  223,  230,  357. 

Smith,  Newell,  355. 

Smith,  Rev.  Mr.,  371. 

Smith,  Rev.  Samuel  Francis,  509,  511. 

Smith,  Sir  John,  22. 

Snorre,  108. 

Snyder,  Lieut.  G.  W.,    311,    334,   335, 

337,  339- 

Somerset,  Earl  of,  85. 
Song  by  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe,  359. 
South  Carolina,  our  flag  restored  to,  377. 
South  Carolina  secedes,  292. 
Southampton,  Earl  of,  12 
Southern  flags  in  the  great  rebellion,  383, 

422. 

Southey,  106. 
Southworth,  Mrs.,    378. 
Spain,   royal    standard  of,    67  ;   standard 

of,  1 1  o. 


Spanish   fleet  compelled    to    strike   their 

colors  to  the  English,  34. 
Sparks,  Jared,  192. 
Sparrow,  Mr.,  of  Louisiana,  392. 
Spelman,  Sir  John,  64.   • 
Sprague,  Governor,   357. 
Spring,  Gardner,  D  D.,  351. 
Squadron,  first  achievement  of  American, 

171. 

Stafford,  James  Bayard,  204. 
Stafford,  Miss  Sarah  S.,  205. 
Stamp  Act,  passage  of,   133. 
Stand  by  the  flag,  456. 
Standard  of  Phila.  light  horse,  181. 
Standard   presented   to   Congress,    1776, 

1  So- 
Standard,  proposed  U.S.,  231,  255. 
Standard  of  the  Knights  Templar,  38. 

royal  arch,  38. 

Master  3d  vail,  38. 

Master  2d,  38. 

Master   ist,  39. 

Grand,  of  Masonic  Knighthood,  39. 

of  A.  and  A.,  Scottish  rite,  39. 

loss,  of  disgraceful,  46. 

imperial,  of  Constancine,  47. 

bearer  of  the  loth  Legion  (Roman), 
gallantry  of,  48. 

sacred,  of  Mahomet,  50. 

of  Stephen  the  Saint,  55. 

N.  American  Indians,  58. 

of  Cortez,  58. 

imperial,  of  China,  58. 

of  Alviano,  64. 

of  Marquis  of  Pescara,  64. 

of  Denmark,  64. 

of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  66. 

royal,  of  Russia,  68. 

royal,  of  Portugal,  68. 

of  Holland,  68. 

of  Italy,  68. 

of  Belgium,  68. 

of  ancient  kings  of  France,  71. 

of  St.  Martin,  71. 

of  Sieur  de  Aubigny,  75. 

of  Philip  the  Bold,  of  Burgundy,  75. 

of  Charles  III,  Duke  de  Bourbon, 

76\ 
imperial  of  France,  76. 

of  William  the  Conqueror,  77. 
of  Edward  III,  86. 
of  St.  Cuthbert,  87. 
of  the  Douglas,  88. 
Standards,  ancient  military,  41. 
derivation  of,  41. 
of  the  Egyptians,  42. 
of  the  Greeks,  43. 
of  the  Hebrews,  43. 


532 


INDEX. 


Standards,  of  the  Assyrians,  44. 

of  the  Persians,  44. 

of  the  Romans,  45. 

of  a  Manipulus,  45. 

Turkish,  49. 

Moslem,  49. 

Slavonic,  52. 

Dragon,  52. 

Mexican,  57. 

Chinese,   57. 

Japanese,  57. 

Javanese,  57. 

East  Indian,  57,  62. 

European  States,  63. 

Italian,  62. 

Spanish,  65. 

Masonic,  38. 

Austrian,  67. 

of  Sweden  and  Norway,  69. 

Franks  and  Gauls,  70. 

French,  70. 

Saxon,  77. 

of  English  sovereigns,  77. 

of  Henry  VIII,  85. 

royal  of  Gt.  Britain  and  Ireland,  89. 

of  united  kingdom  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,  91. 

and    guidons,  mounted     regiments 

U.  S.  army,  473. 
Stanley  meets  Doct.  Livingston  in  Africa, 

452. 

Stanton,  Hon.  E.  M.,  344. 
Star  of  the  West,  fired  at,  298. 
Star  spangled  banner,  492,  493. 
Stars  and  bars  recommended  and  adopted, 

395- 

Stars  and  stripes  in,  1777-1788,  181  ; 
in,  1783-1795,  209;  first  appear- 
ance of,  in  China,  216;  the  fifteen, 
in  1795-1818,221  ;  in,  1818-1861, 
2515  in  1861-1872,  287;  reluct- 
antly abandoned,  393,  396,  398. 

Stars  in  our  flag,  arrangement  of,  258, 
259. 

State  flags,  15,  16. 

States  admitted  during  the  war  of  1861- 
65,  289. 

States  of  the  Union,  the  dates  of  their  ad- 
mission, 260. 

States  secede,  292,  293. 

Steam  launch  Alpha,  279. 

Steam  schooner,  Midas  carries  our  flag  to 

China,  268. 
bark  Edith  carries  our  flag  to  British 

India,  268. 

ship   Massachusetts    carries  our  flag 
to  England,  268. 

Steel,  Capt.,  269. 

Steele,  J.  B.,  357. 


Steinmetz,  Andrew,  74. 

Stephens,  Alex.  H.,  389,  399. 

Stephen  of  Blois,  80. 

Stephen  the  Saint,  king  of  the  Magyars, 

53- 

Stevens, -Commander  Thos.  H.,  445. 

Stevens,  Major  Atherton  Hough,  425. 

Stewart,  Capt.  Charles,  238,  239,462. 

Stibben,  Elizabeth,  128. 

Stiles,  Lieut.  Richard,  141. 

Stirling,  Lord,  158,  191. 

Stockton,  Com.  Robt.  F.,  271. 

Storrs,  Doct.  R.  S.,  346. 

Story  of  Barbara  Frietchie,  378. 

Stothard,  Charles,  26. 

Stow,  26. 

Stowe,  Harriet  Beecher,  359. 

Strain,  Lt.  Isaac  N.,  279. 

Strain's  Darien  expedition,  our  flag  pre- 
served, 279. 

Streamers  considered  warlike  ensigns,  30. 
size  of,  in  time  of  Henry  VIII,  34. 

Street,  Alfred  B.,  189. 

Street,  Alfred  L.,  136. 

Streone,  Edric,  106. 

Strickland,  Thomas,  20. 

Striped  flag,  origin  of,  unknown,  1755 
raising  of,  at  Cambridge,  1776, 
152;  raising  of,  at  Boston,  1525 
Grand  Union,  first  unfurled,  153. 

Stripes,  the,  ordered  for  Admirals'  flags 
and  Commodores'  pendants,  470. 

Stuart,  Gilbert,  362. 

Stuyvesant,  Governor,   125. 

Suffolk,  Countess  of,  23. 

Sullivan,  General,  158. 

Sullivan,  George,  362. 

Sullivan,  William,  362. 

Sumner,  Hon.  Chas.,   166. 

Sumner,  Major  Gen  ,  341. 

Sumter,  our  flag  at,  311,  547. 

Sturges,  Russell,  322. 

Surrender  of  Lee's  army,  420. 

Swartwout,  Capt.  Abraham,  200. 

Sweyne,  or  Swaen,  106. 

Symbol  of  the  colonies,  flag  of  New 
England,  the  earliest,  131. 

Table  giving    dimensions   of  navy  flags, 

471. 

Tafts,  William,  Jr.,   132. 
Talbot,  Lieut.  T.,  311,  321,  323. 
Talbot,  Sir  Gilbert,  23. 
Taney,  Chief  Justice,  308,  309. 
Tassaud,  Madame,  73. 
Taunton,  Mass.,    union    flag    raised    at, 

1774,  136. 

Taylor,  Gen.  Zachary,  271. 
Taylor,  Mr.,  256. 


INDEX. 


533 


Taylor,  Rev.  Father,  362. 

Temple,  Sir  Charles,  131. 

Terry,  Major  Gen.  A.  H.,  445. 

Texas,  flags  of,  1 6. 

Texas  secedes,  293. 

Thatcher,  Dr.  James,  187. 

Thatcher,  Mr.,  222. 

The  thirteen  stripes  and  a  star  for  every 

State,   1818-1860,  249,   260. 
Thomas,  Ichabod,  211. 
Thompson,  Captain,  276. 
Thompson,  Charles,  139. 
Thompson,  Jacob,  290. 
Thompson,  private,  Isaac,  443. 
Thompson,  William  S.,  389,  397,  400, 

4I5- 

Thomlinson,  164. 
Thorfinn,  107,  108. 
Thorhall,  108. 

Thorstein,  107  5  voyage  of  107. 
Thorwald,  105,  106,  107,  108. 
Thorwald,  Helgason,  108. 
Thorwald,  voyage   of,    104;     death    of, 

104. 

Thosmes  II,  53. 
Thosmes  III,  53. 
Tillet,  72. 

Tillinghast,  Capt.,  497. 
Tillinghast,  Col.,  161. 
Tiley,  Lieut.  John,  141. 
To  Canaan,  503. 
Tobey,  Lieut.  Timothy,  160. 
Tod,  Colonel,  62. 
Tott,  Baron  de,  50. 
Toucey,  Hon.  Isaac,  460,  462. 
Townsend,  Gen.  E.  D.,  344,  346. 
Tracy,  Captain,  143. 
Trajan,  Emperor,  46. 
Tree,  liberty,  Charleston,  S.  C.,  cut  down, 
1778,  135- 

Boston,  cut  down,    1775-76,  136. 
Trenton,  flag  of  Washington,  at,  197. 
Tri-color  of  France,  73  ;   origin  of,  74. 
Troop,  Three  County,  flag  of,  123. 
Trophy   flags  of  the    war    of   1861-65, 

440 ;    j  8 1 2-64,  report  of  committee 

recommending     their    preservation, 

240. 

Trumbull,  Col.,  138,  190. 
Tucker,  Com.  Samuel,  141,  142.  1 60. 
Tudor,  Henry,  85. 
Turkish  standards,  49. 
Tyler,  A.  O.,  298. 
Tyler,  John,  299. 
Tyler,  Lieut.  Robert  O.,  329. 
Tyng,  Rev.  Dr.,  374. 
Tyre,  banner  of  a  ship  of,  28. 
Tyrker,  105. 


Uniform  of  officers  of  privateers  in  1776, 
142$  navy,  in  1776,  164. 

of  Washington's  life  guard,  18. 
Union  flag,  British,  origin  of,  119;  raised 

at    Taunton,  Mass,  in   1774,   1365 

Motto  on,  in  1775,  137. 
Union  Jack,  of  Great  Britian,  1 3  j  a  reli- 
gious banner,  22. 

U.  S.  flag,  hoisted  at  San  Francisco,  1846, 
271. 

hoisted  at  Monteray,  1846,  270, 

hoisted  at  San  Diego,  1829,  269. 

hoisted  on  the  Dead  Sea,  1848,  272. 

hoisted  on  Popocatapetl,  1848,  275. 

hoisted  at  Orizaba,  1848,  276. 

hoisted  in  Japan,  1853,  277. 

hoisted  on  land  nearest  the  pole,  280. 

struck  by  lightning,  July  4,   1861, 
225. 

presented  to  the  French  convention, 

225. 
U.  S.  scnooner,  Flying  Fish,  carries  our 

flag  to  70°  S.,  263. 
U.  S.  schooner  Shark,  carries    our  flag 

through  Strait  of  Magellan,  267. 
United  States,  rules  for  ships  of,  37. 
United  States  Seal  and  Arms  of,  475. 
Upshar,  Hon.'A.  P.,  460. 
Utah  Territory,  flag  of,  16. 

Van  Buren,  Martin,   261. 

Vancouver,  Captain,  219. 

Vanderveldt,  33,  94. 

Van  Dorp,  Vice  Admiral,  35. 

Vane,  Governor,  122. 

Van  Ruyvin,  Secretary,   125. 

Van  Schaack,  Peter,  210. 

Van  Tromp,  Admiral,  97,  244,   459. 

Varage,  Capt.  Joseph,  204. 

Vaughan,  at  capture  of  Louisburg,  1745, 

»s«- 

Vaughan,  Mr.,  161. 

Vermont,  state  flag  of,  16. 

Vessels,  colonial,  flags  of,  128,  174. 

Vessels,  masters  of,  refusing  to  strike  to 

the  English  flag,  34. 
Vestynden,  Ralph,  84. 
Vice  President's  flag,  464,  472. 
Victoria,  Queen,  92,  184. 
Virgin  Mary,  72. 
Vishnoo  or  Vishnu,  62,  63. 
Vladislaus  VII,  54. 
Von  Merbach,  General,  176. 

Wagden,  Wm.,  private,  372. 
Waldemar  II,  of  Denmark,   65. 
Wales,  Prince  of,  484  }  device  of,  82. 
Walker,  £.,481. 


534 


INDEX. 


Walker,    L.  P.,  330,  340. 

Walker,  Lieut.  Wm.  M.,  262,  263,  264, 

266. 

Wallace,  General,  372. 
Wallace,  Wm.  Ross,  456. 
Walton,  Col.  J.  B.,  400,  401,  402,  403, 

405,  406,  407. 

War  against  the  flag,  beginning  of,  289, 
310. 

Dutch  ships  of,  to  strike  colors  to 
the  English,  36. 

French    ships    of,    not    required    to 

strike  colors  to  the  English,  36. 
Ward,  M.  E.,  451. 
Ward,  Mr.,  120. 

Warner,  Col.   John  L.,  492,  494. 
Warren,  General,  138. 
Warren,  Hon.  Geo.  Washington,  360. 
Warwick,  Earl  of,  31,  32,  85  j   his  great 

streamer,  31. 
Washington,  George,  18,  119,  139,  140, 

141,  142,  152,158,166,170,  181, 

182,  188,189,191,192,   193,194, 

197,  203,  217,  224,  228,  229,  243, 

394,  44*>  502- 

Washington,  Lady,   182. 

Washington,  stone  placed  over  his  birth- 
place, 247. 

Washington's  flag  at  Trenton,  197. 

Washington's  Life  Guard,  flag  of,  175  uni- 
form of,  1 8. 

Waters,  Lieut.  Daniel,  141. 

Watson,  Col.  Chas.  N.,  216. 

Watson,  Elkanah,  215,  216. 

Watson,  John  F.,  167, 

Wayne,  Polly,  191. 

Webb,  General,  428. 

Webber,  Rev.  Mr.,  353. 

Webster,  Col.  Fletcher,  360,  361,  362. 

Webster,  Daniel,  288. 

Webster,  Hon.  Daniel,  288. 

Webster,  Noah,  458. 

Weddell,  Capt.,  265. 

Weitzel,  General,  425,  426. 

Welles,  Hon.  Gideon,  327,  444,  464. 

Wellington,  Duke  of,  93. 

Wendover,  Hon.   Peter,   251,253,   254, 

255,  256>  aS7- 

Wendover,  Hon.  P.  H.,  letters  about  the 
flag,  254,  257. 

West  India  Co.,  flag  of  Dutch,  196. 

Westbrook,  Mr.,  357. 

Westcott,  Thompson,  159,  203. 

Weston,  Doctor,  353. 

Weymouth,  Capt.  George,  115;  settle- 
ment of,  115. 

Whipple,  Abraham,   163. 

White,  Capt.  A.  H.,  268. 


White  Plains,  American  flag  at,    1776, 

177. 

White,  Richard  Grant,  504. 
Whittier,  Col.  A.   C.,  427. 
Whittier,  J.  G.,  378,  382. 
Whitmore,  Wm.  H.,  123. 
Whittingham,  Dean  of  Durham,  88. 
Wickam,  Wm.   C.,   396. 
Wickes,  Captain,  173,  196. 
Wigfall,  General,  334,    335,  336. 
Wignall,  Mr.,  491. 
Wigglesworth,  Lieut.  John,  141. 
Wilkes,  Captain,  267,  284. 
Wilkes,  Commodore,  281. 
Wilkes,  John,  211,  213. 
Wilkinson,  Sir  G.,  28,  42. 
Willett,  Col.  Marinus,  200,    201. 
William  and  Mary,  509. 
William  III,  of  England,  87,  89. 
William  IV,  of  England,  285. 
William,  Lord  Douglas,  1 88. 
William,  Prince  of  Orange,  34;   flag  of, 

34- 

William,  Rufus,  80,  89. 
William  the  Conqueror,  26,  29,  77  j  ship 

of,  29  ;  standard  of,  78. 
Williams,  John  Foster,  160. 
Williams,  Lieut.  Commander,   345. 
Williams,  Roger,  120. 
Williams,  T.,  507. 
Willig,  Mr.  George,  491,  506,  507. 
Wilson,  Mrs.  Clarissa,  193. 
Wilson,  Hon.  Henry,    306.  , 

Winthrop,  Governor,  211. 
Winthrop,  Robert  C.,  288. 
Winthrop,  Hon.  R.  C.,  on  the  flag,  288. 
Wise,  Henry  A.,  290. 
Withdrawal  of  members  from  the  U.  S. 

Congress,  298. 
Withers,  Mr.,  395. 
Wolfe,  Gen.,  394. 

Wonderful  appearances  and  omens,  203. 
Wood,  Capt    David,  268. 
Wood,  Major  Chas.  O.,  448. 
Wood,  Mrs.  Major,  449. 
Woodbridge.  Wm.  C.,  510. 
Woodbury,  Hon    Levi,  459. 
Woodford,  Col.  Stewart  L.,  346. 
Woodland,  Sir  Walter,  26. 
Woolfolk,  Mr.,  372. 
Wrangel,  Admiral,   285. 
Wright,  Judge,  451. 
Wynkoop,  Colonel,   153- 

Yacht,  first  American,  in  south  latitude, 

278. 

club,  American,  484,  489. 
act,  authorizing  the  licensing,  486. 


INDEX. 


535 


Yacht,  form  of  licenses,  487. 

form  of  application  for  commission, 

of,  488. 

form  of  commission  for,  488. 
ensign  described,  486. 


Ye  Sons  of  Columbia,  500. 
York,  Duke  of,  13,  94. 
York,  Edward,  Duke  of,  82. 
Young,  Brigham,  16. 
Yturrigaray,  Madame,  261,  262. 


INDEX  TO  THE  COLORS  OF  THE  WOOD  ENGRAVINGS. 


Red.       Perpendicular  lines. 

Blue.      Horizontal  lines. 

Black.    Vertical  crossed  by  horizontal  lines. 

Green.  Diagonal  lines  from  left  to  right. 


Purple.   Diagonal  lines  from  right  to  left. 
Yellow.  Black  dots  on  white. 
White.    A  plain  white  field. 


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OKT71i45A 

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U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


